Chapter 973: Peaceful Years
A Wind Kite ferry sailed south through Tongye Continent.
It made a stop at Peach Leaf Ferry outside Mirage City.
Song Yushao was still dressed in a blue long gown and cotton shoes, alone and unattached, as he boarded the ferry. According to the agreement with the Daquan Dynasty, the ferry would help transport a batch of goods to Bicheng Ferry of the Yugui Sect and Qushan Ferry at the southernmost edge of the continent for sale.
Not seeing Han Guanghu and Jian Ming accompanying him, Mi Yu looked intrigued. Zhou Mili was hanging on the railing, gently kicking her legs. She felt a bit regretful that she still hadn't seen that Daquan Emperor whom Pei Qian had once said was as beautiful as a flower. Back then, Pei Qian had even declared with certainty that the refreshing young lady named Yao Jinzhi—whenever she looked at her master—oh, there were so many hidden dramas in her eyes.
Once all the cargo was loaded onto the ferry, the Wind Kite continued southward. Chen Ping'an accompanied Senior Song for a few cups of wine. Song Yushao mentioned that the prefectural magistrate was so busy he could barely catch his breath and simply couldn't get away. Because of the matter of Han Guanghu willingly taking on the role of Daquan National Teacher, the entire court and populace had been shaken.
While drinking, Song Yushao talked about some matters concerning the Daquan court in Mirage City. Then he said, "Excavating a major river is too huge an undertaking. It needs to be done in a proper and justified manner. There's one thing you absolutely can't avoid: have you figured out how to talk to those academies about it?"
They would need permission from the Confucian Temple in the Central Continent, as well as the opinions of the three academies on Tongye Continent. They had to coordinate with the academies first, get a feel for things, and avoid any unnecessary complications.
Chen Ping'an nodded. "The Confucian Temple side, my master will help finalize it. As for the three academies here on Tongye—Tianmu, Dafu, and Wuxi—I'll leave the ferry one by one as I travel south to Qushan Ferry and then head back north, visiting each of them. The central Dafu Academy is the most promising; I'm an old acquaintance with Academy Head Cheng Longzhou. For Wuxi Academy's Head Zhou, I don't think it'll be a big problem—I'm friends with Vice Head Wang Zai, and he can certainly mediate. The biggest issue is still Tianmu Academy. Academy Head Fan comes from the line of the Secondary Sage, is rigorous in scholarship, and prudent in conduct—which means he's relatively conservative. The key is that the current Vice Head, the gentleman Wen Yu, is extremely talented and even more bold. He's only been at the academy a short while, but he's already taken a stance: he wants to manage mountain academy affairs, and he wants to manage the affairs of the dynasties outside the mountains even more. Anyone who objects can come find him, Wen Yu—he'll handle everything."
Song Yushao laughed. "Even I've heard of this gentleman. That shows how famous Wen Yu is."
Wen Yu wasn't a native of Tongye Continent. He had once been fully in charge of battle affairs on the Southern Bodhisattva Continent battlefield, and had managed to outright kill an Immortal-realm demon commander in charge of some military camp.
Chen Ping'an said with a straight face, "No matter how famous Vice Head Wen is, he's still slightly inferior to me."
Originally, if he had just left with Xiao Mo without making this return trip, Chen Ping'an had planned to hand over these dealings with the academies to Zhong Fuzi. A scholar talks best to another scholar.
Song Yushao couldn't help chuckling. "What's the point of boasting to me? Kid, if you've got the guts, go say that to Vice Head Wen's face when you meet him."
Chen Ping'an lifted his wine bowl and smiled. "I'm not that brainless—going up to someone just to slap their face like an idiot. That's too inexperienced in the ways of the world."
One continent, three academies: Dafu, Tianmu, and Wuxi. On Tongye Continent, north and south, there were two former major sects—the flourishing Yugui Sect and the half-dead Tongye Sect. Add the Qingping Sword Sect, and it seemed to match the three academies one to one.
Since it's said everything is hardest at the start, with Wuxi Academy in the south having Zhou Mi and Wang Zai as Head and Vice Head, it should be possible to start off well.
Song Yushao seemed to want to say something, then stopped, and instead just drank with a smile to himself.
Inside Mirage City, there was no shortage of rumors. According to some tidbits that spread with vivid detail, even Han Guanghu's appointment as National Teacher was seen as a smokescreen.
In the capital's marketplaces and alleys, as well as at Peach Leaf Ferry, many claimed with certainty that it must have been someone's strong recommendation—otherwise, how could Han Guanghu have come to Mirage City? From this, it seemed that young Hidden Officer must care deeply about their Daquan Dynasty to go to such lengths for the Yao family.
Chen Ping'an looked puzzled. "Senior Song, did you hear something interesting or see something strange in Mirage City that made you so happy?"
Song Yushao laughed. "Nothing too strange, just some gossip about romantic affairs I heard on the street. I don't know if it's true or not. Anyway, over at the Yao estate, I—a martial artist who hasn't even reached the Golden Body realm—was treated with great respect."
Chen Ping'an smiled wryly. "Let's drink."
At the Water God Temple by the Mai River in the Daquan Dynasty, the incense was flourishing, and worshippers came in an endless stream.
Before the rain-prayer stele stood a woman in plain clothes and a thorn hairpin, of average appearance, with a palm-leaf fan tucked at her waist.
At her feet crouched a young girl, a river hag apprentice, who didn't think the stele inscription was anything worth looking at.
This pair, newly become master and disciple, were travelers from the Central Continent who had come across continents to tour Tongye. They were Yang Zhi and Ganzhou. Now the Chaomei River Hag was Yang Zhi's official disciple.
Yang Zhi's current identity on the landscape register used the alias Jingxing, with the Dao name "Gaoshan." She was a registered guest elder of the Xiangfei Mountain God Temple in a small country on the Central Continent.
As for that extremely high-rank Dharma robe, Yang Zhi had used a concealment technique to let her disciple Ganzhou wear it, tempering the latter's river hag golden body. This in itself was a rare opportunity for cultivation—breaking through realms would be unstoppable.
After all, this was one of the top ten Dharma robes across several worlds.
Yang Zhi asked softly, "Still feel heavy-footed wearing it?"
The young girl looked up and smiled. "Master, it's much better now."
Yang Zhi nodded. "When you no longer feel like you're dragging your feet while walking, you'll have succeeded."
Ganzhou joked, "Master, I'll give it back to you then. Don't refuse to take it."
Yang Zhi smiled. "I wasn't planning to give it to you. Don't flatter yourself."
Ganzhou laughed heartily. "I thought Master would give it to me, and I'd politely refuse once or twice, then eventually return it to you, making our master-disciple bond even stronger."
Yang Zhi smiled. She had picked up a lively treasure as a disciple—this long journey wouldn't be dull.
Ganzhou crouched on the ground, tugging at the collar of the robe. "Master, this robe must be worth a fortune, right?"
For cultivators' Dharma robes to be worn by mountain and river spirits, effectively tempering their golden bodies—it was indeed unheard of. But Ganzhou figured she wasn't very knowledgeable anyway. This was her first time traveling across continents with her master, like a maiden on her first trip to her husband's home.
Yang Zhi nodded. "Not many robes of this rank exist."
In the ancient times ten thousand years ago, that great demon who had always appeared in the form of a youth had possessed two such robes. After he and other great demons like Bai Jing disappeared, these two mountain-top treasures were scattered among two sects in the Barren Waste World. Yang Zhi wasn't without desire for them, but she simply didn't dare act rashly. Besides that, the feathered robe given by the Dao Ancestor to Yu Dou, the one worn by Yao Qing (the elegant counselor of Qingshan Dynasty in Bing Province), and another of similar rank worn by Gao Gu (Dao name "Juyue") of Huayang Palace in Youzhou's Difei Mountain—on the Haoran side, there was Fu Lu Yu Xuan's "Purple Qi," plus the "Dao Vein" robe worn by the current Celestial Master Zhao Tianlai of Dragon Tiger Mountain—hence the saying, "The world's top Dharma robes, Daoism owns half."
Yang Zhi planned to first visit the Daquan Mai River, then the Lin River, and the Pei River near Pu Mountain.
The Mai River beside them and that Pei River wound their way to the sea, but like a qi refiner's innate bone structure, they were limited by nature. Without human intervention, they absolutely lacked the "qualifications" to become a major river. A cultivation seedling with only middle-five-realm aptitude trying to reach the upper-five realms could only rely on immense fortune and opportunities to make up the difference.
Yang Zhi suddenly turned her head, looking toward the northern sky. In a patch of cloud sea, near the Peach Leaf Ferry of Mirage City, a ferry was slowly descending.
She immediately averted her gaze, not daring to look too closely, because she feared that on that ferry there might be a swordsman with whom she had been at odds ten thousand years ago. Enemies meeting face to face would be a disaster.
Letting out a faint sigh, Yang Zhi twitched the corner of her mouth. In truth, her real greatest worry was still that Bai Jing. Her grudge with the former swordsman was merely a conflict of pride, not involving a life-or-death struggle over the Dao. But Bai Jing had coveted a certain inheritance of hers for many years. In fact, the reason Yang Zhi had earlier "flirted" with the Mountain-Moving Old Ancestor (whose true name was Zhu Yan) was a forced alliance for self-preservation, hoping not to have Bai Jing come challenging her with a sword and recklessly stirring up the Eye River.
Bai Jing certainly wasn't dead. Everyone else might die, but not this endlessly troublesome, tenacious soul.
Thinking of this, being in the Haoran World, far from the Barren Waste, might actually be a blessing in disguise?
Inside the Biyou Palace near the Mai River Temple.
The Mai River Water Goddess was personally entertaining a guest, a fellow "Eastern Sea Woman," as common folk called her. After all, they were both water goddesses. Even though their temples were far apart—one east, one west—since the other had taken the initiative to visit, Liu Rou was very hospitable. The visitor before her, named Kou Xuanqu, was the water god of the source of the Pei River, and she had come with a request. It was a small matter—she wanted to conduct a "water-moving" ritual on the Mai River, and Liu Rou was happy to agree.
Kou Xuanqu, as the Pei River Water God and a descendant of the dragon kind, naturally couldn't perform the water-moving ritual on her own Pei River. Earlier, her neighbor and friend Huang Yiyun of Pu Mountain had helped bridge the connection with the Daquan Empress. Yao Xianzhi then inquired with the Biyou Palace of the Mai River. At that time, Liu Rou had already given her answer—simple, just two words: welcome.
Thus, Kou Xuanqu's water-moving on the Mai River was settled.
The only minor flaw was that Kou Xuanqu seemed to have heard in advance about Biyou Palace's hospitality—as soon as they met, she said she wasn't hungry and wasn't much of a drinker, so tea would be fine.
Today, Kou Xuanqu brewed tea herself, using the cloud-mist tea produced from the Pei River.
Liu Rou sipped the tea and said politely, "This tea is delicious, really delicious."
It was just a bit bland, practically like drinking water. No matter—a belly full of water was still a full belly.
Liu Rou was pondering how to come up with a suitable opening to ask Kou Xuanqu about something that had long piqued her curiosity. Hearsay and rumors were never as good as getting the answer straight from the person involved.
The source and mouth of the Pei River were respectively dedicated to an Eastern Sea Woman and a Qinghong Lord, but both were unorthodox temples not recognized by the local court. Given Kou Xuanqu's Daoist background, she could increase her cultivation realm through the water-moving ritual. What was most interesting was that both water god temples simultaneously housed two statues—rather like a land temple enshrining both a Land Lord and his Lady.
But such private insider information was awkward to ask about directly, no matter how curious Liu Rou was.
So Liu Rou spent half the day and finally managed to squeeze out a question she deemed appropriate: "The Qinghong Lord, whose temple is at the Pei River's mouth—he didn't come along?"
Kou Xuanqu shook her head with a smile. "No. It's not easy for a water god to leave their jurisdiction, especially since Qinghong Lord isn't an orthodox water god."
Liu Rou let out an "oh." According to various records and depictions in strange tales, this "Eastern Sea Woman," unable to return home, was said to be actually a Dragon Girl of the Eastern Sea. Liu Rou, as a water god, took one look at Kou Xuanqu and knew that claim was nonsense. That's right—as if the dragon-slaying campaign was something to scoff at!
Liu Rou stealthily pulled out a book, coughed, and placed it on the table with a pretentious air. This Mai River Water Goddess had given the matter deep thought, but ended up using the lamest excuse: "Xuanqu, books always love to tell stories and spread rumors, right?"
Kou Xuanqu glanced at the book title, understood, and smiled. "Half true, half false. I've flipped through this book too. It says I'm a Dragon Girl from some dragon palace in the Eastern Sea waters, fond of literature, and I'd transform into a wealthy young lady, often taking a personal maid on a boat through the Pei River to travel inland, getting scholars to copy scripture and poetry for me. Actually, that's not entirely fabricated—such things did happen. It's just that back then, the young lady deliberately had me disguise myself as her, and she pretended to be the maid."
Liu Ruo's eyes lit up. "And then a certain Five Marchmount Mountain Lord, coveting her beauty, ordered his favorite general, Qinghong Lord, to overturn the boat and block the way, mistakenly abducting you instead. He built you a private water mansion at the source of the Pei River, hiding you away like a golden house. Whenever you grew homesick, you'd cry, and the Pei River would flood. If that's true, this Mountain Lord really acted improperly! If so, don't worry—later I'll ask a certain Little Master to get you justice. This Little Master is extraordinary—with him handling it, he'll surely restore your freedom... Huh? It's not that dramatic? Then is it the other version the mountain immortals on Tongye tell? That your young lady, to escape an arranged marriage, married Qinghong Lord in secret—they'd already taken a liking to each other—and the Mountain Lord deliberately played matchmaker, acting as a go-between. So you were just a decoy to cover up her elopement. In that case, it's indeed a poignant and moving tale!"
Kou Xuanqu wore a helpless expression, hesitating. She really didn't want to deceive this Mai River Water Goddess, so she had to pick some harmless things to say: "In that story, neither with Qinghong Lord nor with that kind-hearted Mountain Lord was there any romantic involvement."
Liu Rou was greatly disappointed. She grudgingly put away the book on the table and muttered softly, "Scholars are dishonest—especially those who write books. They sure know how to deceive."
Kou Xuanqu smiled gently.
Liu Rou laughed heartily. "A few words of disagreement and half a sentence is too much; a thousand cups are too few when drinking with a bosom friend. Xuanqu, let's both drink one—I'll finish mine, you can go easy... Ah, it's tea. Same thing."
Near the Mai River, where land met sea.
A group of people walked ashore by parting the waters. The leader was the Eastern Sea Water Lord, True Dragon King Zhu.
He came with a retinue of four water mansion attendants: Li Ba, Huang Man, Gong Yan, and Xi Man.
They had been running another escort job with Water Lord Wang Zhu, and this brief break from busyness was rare. This time ashore, they were going to visit a mountain dynasty with a newly established era name, "Divine Dragon."
These four were no ordinary individuals. It was rare for them to gather as colleagues.
Jade Daoist Huang Man was an Immortal-realm ghost cultivator, skilled in the literal meaning of "summoning wind and rain," but had a grudge with Zhang Tiaoxia, the former number one martial artist in the Haoran World.
Li Ba, Dao name "Cuizhang," was an old cultivator from Golden Armor Continent. He had once been a close friend (despite the age difference) of Wanyan Lao Jing, a state preceptor of a fallen dynasty who once controlled the Qingzhang Daoist Institute—a position somewhat akin to Yang Qingkong, the national teacher of the Chongxuan Department in the Dayuan Dynasty of Northern Juguo.
Xi Man was a ninth-realm martial artist, born from the land-dragon kind of Liuxia Continent, with hope of reaching the Ultimate realm.
The beautiful woman, real name Gong Yan, childhood name Awu, was a native cultivator of Fuyang Continent. Her sect had suffered heavy casualties in the war, losing both its ancestral hall and mountain peaks. Gong Yan lacked the ambition and ability to revive it. She was decent at making money, but that was about it. Being a sect master was beyond her, so over the years she had only secretly subsidized a few ambitious younger disciples of her sect a few times. When they encountered trouble, she would ask Water Lord Wang Zhu if she could use the Eastern Sea Water Mansion's name to help them through.
Gong Yan had stayed in touch over the years with that female sword cultivator named Nalan. This woman had originally said she came from the Inverted-Hanging Mountain Water Essence Palace, and reportedly had subsequently become the new sect master of the Rain Dragon Sect, squeezing out Yun Qian—that gentle, weak Jade Pu-realm female cultivator—and transferring her to the position of Law-Venerating Ancestor.
This new sect master of the Rain Dragon Sect, a sword cultivator, had once partnered with Gong Yan in a mountain-and-water grotto and made a huge amount of immortal money. So, remembering old ties, she had recently invited Gong Yan to become the sect's chief reverend (or chief guest elder who gets paid for doing nothing). Gong Yan hadn't outright refused and was using a delaying tactic for now.
Wang Zhu spoke: "Besides visiting the Yu dynasty that's changing its era name this time, I also need to see someone. No need to wait or search—they'll find us themselves."
Gong Yan smiled charmingly. "As long as it's not that famously young Hidden Officer, I'm fine with anyone."
Apart from Chen Ping'an, their group wasn't afraid of anyone else. Even an ordinary Flying Ascension realm cultivator—well, the Eastern Sea Water Lord beside them was also Flying Ascension. Who dared say a harsh word?
Gong Yan carefully glanced at Wang Zhu's expression when she mentioned "Hidden Officer," but Wang Zhu showed no reaction, as if she hadn't heard.
Gong Yan turned to look at a pitiful little fellow.
At the back of the group followed a youth named Wang Qiongju, whom she had bestowed the surname Wang. He was responsible for carrying large and small bundles on his shoulders.
The youth had a slight bump on his forehead. He had only succeeded in forming his shape a few years ago, mostly because he had always been hungry—he had never eaten his fill.
He had been with Wang Zhu for many years, and after minor success in cultivation, he barely took on human form. Wang Zhu gave him the surname Wang, name Qiongju, style name Yusha, and a Dao name, Hansu.
This was none other than the four-legged snake that had often been thrown next door by Song Jixin in Clay Vase Alley, and when it ran back home, Zhigui would crush it with her toes.
Now, Wang Qiongju had a purple gourd slanted across his back, a relic from the ancient times that its owner had fished out of the sea, inscribed with two ancient seal-script characters: "Catch Release."
Sensing Gong Yan's gaze, the youth smiled shyly.
Gong Yan became even more curious about that palm-sized little town. If she had the chance, she really wanted to visit it herself.
According to the agreement with Wang Zhu, once the Haoran water spirit escort missions were completely finished, the four of them could dissolve their contracts with the Water Mansion. Whether they stayed or left, Wang Zhu was fine with either.
Among them, Li Ba and Xi Man planned to go together to the Dali capital in Bottle Gourd Continent, to seek refuge with Prince Song Mu. One had been a state preceptor, the other a land-dragon kind from the shore—both wanted to try their luck, try to support a dragon's rise and become its ministers.
As for Jade Daoist Huang Man and Gong Yan, one had a special status as a ghost immortal—unsuitable for showing his face—and the other was a lazybones who cared about nothing except making money.
So Huang Man intended to stay by Wang Zhu's side, accumulate merit through hard work, and then find a chance to establish a sect on some stable ground. Whether it would be called a sect or something else, Huang Man didn't care much.
Gong Yan couldn't help asking, "Wang Zhu, is that county town really that unfathomable?"
Among them, Wang Zhu had demanded no honorifics—just call her by name.
Wang Zhu nodded calmly. "The higher the cultivator's realm, the less they should wander around there."
Gong Yan laughed. "Our group has seen a bit of the world..."
Wang Zhu sneered. "The world? How much? How many Flying Ascension and Fourteenth Realm cultivators have you seen, standing right before your eyes?"
By the roadside, a patch of white appeared out of nowhere.
The figure held something in hand, then stood on one leg like a golden rooster, raised a Demon-Reflecting Mirror high, and shook it at the beautiful woman. "Hah! Demon spirit, where do you think you're going? Show your true form at once!"
Here we go again!
The same addled white-clad youth—and the worst part was that even the pose and the words were exactly the same as last time.
---
On the Wind Kite ferry, Chen Ping'an was again drinking and chatting idly with Song Yushao. Mi Yu knocked on the door and came in, smiling. "Wang Zai is on his way here, and with him is another Confucian scholar wearing a jade pendant—likely another gentleman."
Song Yushao waved his hand. "You go ahead and handle business. I won't join the fun."
Chen Ping'an stood up and followed Mi Yu to the bow to welcome the two honored guests from the academies who had taken the initiative to board the Wind Kite.
Chen Ping'an was the first to bow deeply. "Brother Mingqi, it's been years."
Wang Zai, style name Mingqi, had been about to casually cup his hands in greeting but had to switch to a formal bow in return. "Greetings, Hidden Officer Chen."
They were indeed old acquaintances, having met at the Sword Qi Great Wall. Wang Zai had also been the only Confucian scholar from the academies to hold a trouble-free token from the wine shop there.
Beside him, his friend Wen Yu also bowed proactively. "Wen Yu of Tianmu Academy, greetings, Mr. Chen."
Zhou Mi, the head of Wuxi Academy—the same one who shared his name with Wen Hai Zhou Mi and was often mocked by cultivators because of it—had previously been head of the Yufu Academy in Northern Juguo. If not for his terrible temper—publicly declaring he'd kill any hidden Barren Waste demon cultivator he saw, even leaving the academy to participate in mountain searches and personally killing several demons, which got him locked up in the Merit Forest—he would have by rights been promoted to a Director of one of the schools.
Of the seventy-two Confucian academies, each had one head and two vice heads, with the vice heads handling different duties—one for theoretical matters, one for practical. Wen Yu was the vice head responsible for all "general affairs." It was worth noting that according to the Confucian Temple's current decisions, twenty years later, the Ministers of Rites in all mountain dynasties would have to be graduates of Confucian academies—meaning that vice heads like Wen Yu would almost become the de facto emperors of those nations.
Chen Ping'an cupped his hands and smiled. "I've long heard of Vice Head Wen's reputation. It's an honor."
Wang Zai said helplessly, "Chen Ping'an, you and I are supposed to be friends."
Chen Ping'an replied, "Back then, we parted with deep reluctance and wished each other well. But after you returned to Haoran, you never managed to scheme and kill an Immortal-realm demon cultivator."
Wang Zai was momentarily speechless. Chen Ping'an grabbed his arm and laughed. "Whether you're here to interrogate on behalf of the academy, or just to catch up with old friends and trade stories of hardship, let's have a drink first."
The group went to Mi Yu's room, and Mi Yu was about to close the door and leave.
But unexpectedly, Wen Yu cupped his hands and smiled. "I humbly ask Sword Immortal Mi to stay and drink with us."
Mi Yu was baffled. "You're not a woman who once went to the Sword Qi Great Wall—what reason do you have to keep me?"
Chen Ping'an laughed. "Then let's all drink together."
Mi Yu immediately sensed trouble—he was about to be exposed. What if Wen Yu had a female immortal relative by marriage? That could ruin Hidden Officer's big plans. This was no place to stay. Mustering his courage, Mi Yu said, "I still need to go into seclusion to practice my sword. I won't accompany you."
Wen Yu said, "On the battlefield, I personally interrogated several demon cultivators. Some of them mentioned Sword Immortal Mi, grinding their teeth with hatred."
Mi Yu sighed in relief. You could have said so earlier—you scared me. Being remembered by Haoran women and being loathed by Barren Waste demon beasts—both are great pleasures in life.
With that, Mi Yu straightened his back and waved a hand. "You all talk. Vice Head Wen and I won't lack opportunities to drink in the future."
Wen Yu smiled and nodded. "Then it's settled. Next time the Wind Kite passes Tianmu Academy, I'll have wine ready early and await Sword Immortal Mi."
Wang Zai, being rather partial to outsiders, communicated via heart voice to Chen Ping'an: "See? This guy and Mi Yu hit it off before they even met—it's absolutely true, because they're both ruthless people."
Chen Ping'an replied mentally, "Did Wen Yu drag you along this time to first bring up the Little Dragon Falls matter, then the unauthorized suggestion to dig a major river, charge me with two crimes? But Tianmu Academy is afraid I'll flip the table and cause a rift between the Qingping Sword Sect and Tianmu Academy, so Head Fan sent you to mediate?"
Wang Zai laughed. "That underestimates Wen Yu. In fact, before he came to Tongye, he already had the idea of using the excavation of a major river to relieve refugees and unite the people of Tongye. What do you think—great minds think alike?"
Chen Ping'an was a little surprised.
In that case, there was no need to hide anything. They were all on the same side. Chen Ping'an simply had the two vice heads pick up their wine bowls, then took a scroll from his sleeve and spread a river-and-mountain scroll on the table. The scroll was extremely long, with both ends nearly touching the window and door of the room. Chen Ping'an used a minor spell, like a pillar holding up a roof, to suspend the scroll in midair. He placed his wine bowl in the air at hand's reach, like a white fish floating in water. Without any preamble, he began to explain in detail the route plan for this major river. He traced his finger slowly along the scroll, outlining a green river channel: which country, which place, where it needed to be rerouted, where a riverbed needed to be dug, where mountains had to be moved and veins shifted, which major cities and towns might become submerged cities, compensation for the common people, how much money would be distributed to each person roughly, how the local government offices and the treasuries of each dynasty would check in with the Qingping Sword Sect, the Yugui Sect, etc., and how the latter would verify these matters. If any official dared to embezzle, how would they be dealt with...
When Chen Ping'an got to the punishment plan for such officials, Wen Yu finally spoke: "The penalty is too light. Directly reduce their status to commoner, and their descendants three generations shall not take the imperial exams. In the officials' hometowns, the court shall order the local government to erect a stele as a warning, to teach future generations that anyone who dares to embezzle even a single tael of silver on such matters will suffer this fate—no negotiation. If any treasury official dares to cover it up, they'll also lose their post and be reduced to commoner status, with a stele in their hometown. Let's see how they can still return home in glory. If any emperor can't bear it and doesn't want to lose the pillars of the state, I, Wen Yu, will go talk to him personally. If he won't listen, we'll find a wise ruler who will."
Chen Ping'an looked up at the vice head of Tianmu Academy.
Wen Yu nodded. "Don't worry. Although I'm only a vice head, my word is the word of Tianmu Academy. If we set this precedent, then Mingqi's Wuxi Academy and Cheng Longzhou's Dafu Academy won't have the face to refuse."
Wang Zai nodded in agreement.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Then it's settled."
Wen Yu smiled slightly. "Mr. Chen, you may not have dealt much with academies, but academies aren't like officialdom or immortal sect gates. Head Chen should try visiting more in the future—for example, our Tianmu Academy. Then you'll believe I'm not just talking idle boasts today."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "It seems I'll need to interact more with academies from now on."
Wen Yu cut straight to the point: "Mr. Chen, after all this talk, have you thought about how your Qingping Sword Sect will make money?"
Wang Zai stared at the scroll on the table. Besides the earliest "Major River" map, there were also nearly a hundred maps laid over it, showing the current topography of various countries. Chen Ping'an had been releasing maps as he spoke about each area. Wang Zai shook his head. "How to make money? It's not easy—not losing money is already hard. Just the labor of moving mountains and filling waters, how much manpower and resources will that consume? Without two or three Flying Ascension great cultivators to help, it'll all have to be a riverbed dug out by money alone."
Most of the major rivers across the continents were naturally formed waterways. In the past few thousand years, only a few had been dug by human effort, extremely rare.
The most recent was the Qi Ford on Bottle Gourd Continent. That was the Dali Dynasty, a country that was also a continent, using the power of the entire nation to accomplish the feat, without counting the cost.
But this major river on Tongye was an alliance of various forces. That meant that all allies, including the Qingping Sword Sect, had no past experience of success or failure to draw on. Everyone had to feel their way across the river. If troublesome issues arose, or if someone felt the benefits were unfair, former allies could turn into enemies.
So Chen Ping'an took the opportunity to mention Tender Daoist and Yang Zhi.
Wang Zai was inwardly shaken but showed nothing on his face.
Wen Yu, however, asked directly: "Yang Zhi? How did it get out of the forbidden land?"
Chen Ping'an said, "It was tricked out."
Wen Yu's eyes sparkled as he looked at the young Hidden Officer.
Chen Ping'an shook his head.
Wen Yu nodded. "No rush."
It was as if two people who had never met could understand each other without elaborate explanation.
Wang Zai rubbed his brow with a finger—headache.
These two together made him feel terribly uneasy as vice head of Wuxi Academy. Maybe one day he'd be going to the Merit Forest to study with Wen Yu.
Chen Ping'an continued: "First, the Qingping Sword Sect, Peace Mountain, and Pu Mountain can each select three to five subordinate territories to use as enclaves for long-term management. Of course, these would be the kind of chicken-rib territories that various national courts are unable to repair or develop into immortal residences—neither spiritually barren nor fiercely contested prime sites. Second, along the route, we'll build immortal ferry ports, inns, and shops—these are steady, long-term businesses. Third, during the excavation, all natural treasures, gold, silver, copper, iron, and various mineral deposits that were historically undiscovered by any country can be discussed and split with the local dynasties and feudal lords. Additionally, with river rerouting, any immortal mansion ruins that emerge, fragmented secret realms accidentally discovered, or even remnants of land-dragon palaces—if luck is on our side, none of these are impossible. For the latter, no trades with the countries. Finally, once the major river is dug, all immortal ferry ports along the route must prioritize our ferries docking, free of docking fees or rent. For example, the Tongyin Ferry from the Green Shirt Ferry at Immortal Capital Mountain is one such case. But our Wind Kite and all cross-continental ferries still need to follow the previous mountain rules and pay spirit coin fees to the various ferry port owners."
Once the major river was done, it would carve a complete commercial route horizontally across Tongye, giving ferries like the Tongyin Ferry a real purpose.
"These are all mutually beneficial, long-term deals. The central countries should be eager to join."
Wen Yu pulled out the bottom scroll and placed it on top, took a sip of wine, leaned over the table, and asked, "But with a major river, there will be new mountain-and-river spirit positions. How are you dividing them? The Pei River near Pu Mountain has never been officially enshrined—the Eastern Sea Woman and Qinghong Lord—they can surely become water spirits confirmed by the academies. As for the dukes, marquises, and counts—three to four high-ranking water spirit positions that come with a major river—have you leaders already divvied them up internally? Of course, on the surface you only have the power to recommend, but the Confucian Temple and the three academies probably won't be too harsh. As long as the candidates are suitable, they might just tacitly approve."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "We've discussed this. The Qingping Sword Sect has voluntarily given up this right to recommend. The Daquan Dynasty and the Yugui Sect will each have their own candidates. But for the two positions of Duke and Marquis of the major river, everyone agreed—no one will recommend or nominate anyone, or it would look too greedy. So we're just making sure two favored candidates get the Count position."
Wang Zai looked relieved.
Wen Yu looked up, curious. "Why did Mr. Chen voluntarily give up? It's not like you're using public office for private gain—recommending the worthy regardless of relation isn't something to be taboo about."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "I don't have a suitable candidate."
The Mai River Water Goddess, Liu Rou of Biyou Palace—the Yao family of Daquan would certainly push hard to recommend her for the Count of the major river.
But Liu Rou was probably unsuited for jumping several ranks in the mountain-and-river bureaucracy to become a Duke or Marquis directly. Moreover, Chen Ping'an even suspected that this Water Goddess might refuse to become the Count herself.
Wen Yu raised his wine bowl, sincerity in his eyes. "This visit has been worthwhile. I'll finish this bowl and go. I can't promise more, but let me say this: as for the Yugui Sect, if they ever cause trouble in the future, the Qingping Sword Sect only needs to send a flying sword message to Tianmu Academy, and I'll deal with them. If Jiang Shangzhen were still the sect master, I'd be a bit more polite. But now it's different—Wei Ying has only gone to the Barren Waste, hasn't accomplished much yet—I don't need to show them any face."
They each finished their bowls. Wang Zai couldn't help teasing, "What a rude and arrogant scholar's self-praise."
Chen Ping'an laughed. "Brother Mingqi, you're a scholar—mind your words. The proper term is 'showing one's edge.'"
Wen Yu shook his head. "In terms of achievements, boldness, and breadth of mind, I'm far inferior to Head Chen. This isn't just polite dinner talk; it's the truth. Wang Zai knows this best—I never bother with false pleasantries."
Afterward, Chen Ping'an accompanied the two vice heads to the bow. Wang Zai said, "Chen Ping'an, our Vice Head Wen is currently planning to promote the establishment of charitable estates in the mountain dynasties..."
Chen Ping'an's eyes lit up, and he immediately interrupted, "Are you referring to using the 'Fan Family Charitable Estate,' which has lasted over eight hundred years, as a model?"
Wang Zai laughed. "Yes, but it will be more comprehensive, with over seven hundred detailed rules—no exaggeration to call it meticulous. Wen Yu plans to force certain people to do some good deeds."
Wen Yu asked curiously, "Mr. Chen knows about this as well?"
Chen Ping'an hesitated, then took out several thick booklets from his sleeve and smiled. "Now this is a real coincidence. As it happens, I've also put together a rough framework on this matter. I only have over five hundred rules, not as many as yours. Vice Head Wen can take these, no need to return them. See if they can help fill any gaps."
Wen Yu accepted the booklets with both hands. Stopping at the bow, he bowed deeply. "I take my leave of Mr. Chen."
Chen Ping'an had to bow in return. Straightening up, he said, "Vice Head Wen, allow me a digression. Whether private school teachers or academy scholars, teaching and nurturing must not be separated. Otherwise, no matter how peaceful the times seem, it won't be a true peaceful world."
Wen Yu laughed heartily. "Of course. Once again, we think alike!"
Wang Zai cupped his hands and smiled. "Chen Ping'an, next time we drink, we'll have to drink until we're drunk."
Chen Ping'an teased, "I know your drinking capacity well. I advise you not to boast so much, or you'll have to pay your debts at the next drinking bout and won't be able to escape."
The two young vice heads of the academies took to the wind and departed.
Below the ferry, on the earth and mountains, green grass grew by the riverbank, thoughts stretched along the long road.
On the mountains, layer upon layer of peach and plum blossoms; beneath the clouds, curling smoke from human homes—house after house, connected.
Old mountains and rivers take on a new spirit. Year after year, the new year comes again. Rejoice together, celebrate together, happiness and good fortune with each new day.