Chapter 977: Loving Brothers of the Same Master
Spring breeze warmed the waters, the scenery was enchanting. On the bank, a few peach blossoms peeked out beyond the bamboo; in the water, wild ducks drifted and chased the clear reflections.
Wang Zhu and her group parted the waters and stepped ashore on Tongye Continent, intending to pay a visit to that opportunistic Yu Dynasty, which had been eagerly currying favor with the East Sea Waterlord's Residence. But before they had taken many steps, they unexpectedly encountered this white-robed youth with a red mole between his brows. It was the second time they had met; the first had been at the former site of the Great River Dragon Palace. Several of the Water Residence's retainers had deep impressions of this person—his scheming depths were unfathomable. Of course, what truly made them wary was that yellow-hatted, green-shod sword cultivator "Xiao Mo," who addressed the young Hidden Official as "young master" and whose realm was impossibly high.
Wang Zhu and Cui Dongshan had known each other for a long time, and they were practically from the same hometown, so she was used to him. But Gong Yan, Huang Man, and the others watched that fool's ridiculous posture and felt that the youth's actions were both nauseating and intimidating. They were all accomplished cultivators, heroes in their own right from their respective continents, and had seen many strange people and odd events on the mountains. But this white-robed youth, standing on one leg like a golden rooster, holding a treasure mirror in one hand, and spouting nonsense—he was truly unique.
Cui Dongshan saw that they weren't responding, so he seemed to activate some kind of immobilization technique. He acted as if he had made up his mind: if they didn't give him some reaction, then the two sides would just stand off like this until the end of time.
Wang Zhu sneered, "Patriarch Cui, aren't you tired?"
Cui Dongshan maintained that posture and said seriously, "A true man stands on one foot and holds up the sky with one hand, supported by an iron backbone. I dare not complain of tiredness. A hero—a white jade pillar supporting the heavens, a purple-gold beam bridging the seas—spares no hardship..."
Wang Zhu's gaze turned icy. "Cui Dongshan, that's enough. If you have something to say, say it. If not, get out of the way. I don't have time to waste here with you."
"Of course I have something—why wouldn't I? A patriarch of a sect is very busy. I just accompanied a Luoyang wood merchant to visit the Lin River. This journey was quite a trek, sleeping in the wind and eating in the dew—very hard work."
Cui Dongshan looked disgruntled. He put away his "boxing stance." As soon as his foot touched the ground, he lifted it again and kicked a pebble on the bank. It shot rapidly toward the river, smashed into the water with a thunderous roar, and startled a flock of wild ducks into flapping wings and flying wildly.
Cui Dongshan twisted his wrist, conjuring a green bamboo staff engraved with a running-script version of the "Inscription on Circulating Breath." This walking staff was a gift from Wu Shuangjiang of the Night Boat. Cui Dongshan had originally planned to give it to Chai Wu as a congratulatory gift for stepping into the Jade Pure Realm in one go, but he changed his mind at the last moment. He had other uses for it, either keeping it as a family heirloom for his future final disciple or giving it to Zhao Luan, who might come to cultivate on his Wu Cao Peak. Since he had already poached from the Despair Mountain with a hoe, he didn't mind adding another debt to his teacher's account. So Cui Dongshan found Chai Wu—the girl who loved to drink, nicknamed "Grass and Wood" or "You Na" by Bai Xuan—and made a deal with her: did she want this priceless green bamboo staff, or did she want him to give her a hundred jars of immortal wine in his personal name, each guaranteed to have a unique name? Chai Wu's eyes immediately lit up. "A hundred jars are too many; fifty are enough." The girl's meaning was simple: heaven and earth are vast, but drinking is the most important!
Cui Dongshan grinned mischievously. "Miss Zhigui, a distinguished guest has arrived at Despair Mountain. My teacher had to return home immediately, so the celebration ended and he left. He couldn't personally receive you."
Wang Zhu said expressionlessly, "A minor water residence, isolated overseas, would not dare to trouble Master Chen for his hospitality."
Cui Dongshan said earnestly, "You can't say that. Miss Zhigui and my teacher are old neighbors who met when they were at their lowest. A close neighbor is better than a distant relative. What a bond and what a connection!"
Wang Zhu twitched the corner of her mouth and said nothing more. After their last parting at the former Great River Dragon Palace site, Wang Zhu, who had returned with Chen Ping'an, had not mentioned Cui Dongshan's hidden identity to her Water Residence retainers. She only said that he was from Bottle Gourd Continent and had been an official in the Great Li court. When Cui Dongshan entered the Lizhu Cave Heaven before it shattered and fell to the earth, he somehow became Chen Ping'an's student. Wang Zhu's explanation was too simple. Gong Yan and the others naturally knew that Wang Zhu had dismissed them with just one sentence. There was no point in saying more about Cui Dongshan; knowing more would only bring unnecessary trouble. Not long ago, the East Sea Water Residence received intelligence that Despair Mountain had established a subordinate sect in the southern territory of the Great Abyss Dynasty, named the Green Lotus Sword Sect, with Cui Dongshan serving as its first patriarch.
Cui Dongshan swung his walking staff, greeting each of them one by one, eagerly offering his services.
"Sister Zhigui, you really are prescient. You predicted early on that I would come looking for you."
"As for that Yu Dynasty, which changed its era name to 'Divine Dragon,' I'm familiar with it. Not to brag, but once we reach Luojing, I can practically be considered half a host. You don't have to believe me now; you'll see when you get there. For example, that Revered True Person Lu Bilong of the Verdant Accumulation Temple is a close friend of mine on the mountain. And the Azure Seal Sect, the leader of the immortal mansions in the Yu Dynasty, is practically family. How could our relationship be bad? Especially Dai Yuan—he's a sworn brother through thick and thin."
Gong Yan smiled charmingly. "Patriarch Cui has many friends."
Cui Dongshan nodded. "Of course. If you have many friends in the martial world, you're guaranteed to eat nine meals a day."
Dai Yuan, that old fellow—ever since he met me and we had a drink at the Luojing Lantern Riddle Pavilion under the grape trellis, that money-burning den, he's been flying high. First, he got promoted within the Azure Seal Sect, just recently becoming the Discipline Elder, replacing Xu Bai, the direct disciple of Sect Leader Gao Shuwen. Dai Yuan is a Golden Core cultivator, so it's legitimate. Additionally, Dai Yuan's ranking as a royal supplicant in the Yu Dynasty has also risen. It's blooming both inside and outside the walls.
As for Zhang Liuzhu, the old Nascent Soul with the Dao name "Narcissus," who was the chief guest elder of the Little Dragon Deep and drank with us back then, he now goes by the alias Zhang Xie. He's in the Great Chong Dynasty, serving as an advisor to a young man—a young but famous Vice Minister of Works named Shi Yuyan. The Minister of Justice had a child late in life and placed great hopes in Shi Yuyan, as evidenced by the name he gave his son: "Cultivate the Dao and nurture virtue, discuss art and establish words."
After parting at the Lantern Riddle Pavilion, Cui Dongshan had once used the Yang Spirit incarnation from the Pushing Mountain Cloud Herb Hall to visit Zhang Liuzhu and also met Minister Shi. They hit it off immediately.
The Great Li Dynasty's secondary capital is also called Luojing, which is related to the enfeoffment of Song Mu as "Prince Luo" when he took up his princedom.
And the capital of the Yu Dynasty on Tongye Continent is also called Luojing. It's just a coincidence.
Given the current prestige of the Great Li court and the Yu Dynasty's opportunism, even if they aren't on the same continent, the latter probably wouldn't have a problem renaming it if asked.
Cui Dongshan said he would take them somewhere, not far, just a three-incense-stick journey through the clouds by wind-riding.
During the flight, the white-robed youth stood on his green bamboo staff like a sword, turned to chat up Gong Yan, and said, "Sister A'wu, earlier I listened to your casual conversation. I was all ears for your words, not missing a single syllable. Since you want to visit Huaihuang County, what's the difficulty? I can guide you. Why don't we set a time now?"
Gong Yan ignored him. Cui Dongshan turned to chat with someone else. "Brother Li Ba, you still look vigorous despite your age. That Wanyan Laojing was your friend across generations, a teacher and a friend, a beautiful story on the Golden Armor Continent. It's fine. In life's journey, who doesn't stumble a few times? Since your hometown is a place of sorrow, just don't go back. Someday, when you and Miss Zhigui part amicably, you can settle down here on Tongye Continent. If you want to go to Bottle Gourd Continent, I have even more friends there. You could take up your old trade, become a national preceptor in some southern court. An old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop a thousand miles—that would still be a beautiful story. Brother Li Ba, are you feeling a bit better now that I've said this?"
Li Ba's face darkened. How could he feel good when someone was poking at his sore spot? Even Huang Man and Gong Yan didn't dare mention the name Wanyan Laojing in front of Li Ba.
"Brother Xi Man, would you like to exchange a few bouts with one or two Martial Peak fighters? If you're interested, it's a small matter. I can introduce you. There happen to be two of them on Tongye Continent right now, and coincidentally, they're both my friends. Given my friendship with Brother Xi Man, I'd even be willing to swallow my pride to make the connection for you, to arrange two friendly sparring matches for mutual improvement."
Xi Man, a peak-nine Martial Peak fighter, had the foundation of a land-based earth dragon from Liuxia Continent. That continent had average martial fortune, once having two Martial Peak fighters, but now only one remained. The other, a grandmaster named Ye Ku, who was more talented and achieved higher realms, had once crossed continents alone to the central battlefield of Golden Armor Continent to throw punches and kill demons, causing his realm to drop. Since then, the Central Continent, known for criticizing people and things, had a mocking saying about Liuxia Continent.
That northwestern Liuxia Continent: in terms of martial achievements, the mountains are inferior to the foothills; in terms of courage, the old are inferior to the young.
The former sweeping blow insulted all mountain cultivators, including a host of immortal mansions like Immortal Qinzhao and even the Tianyu Cave Heaven. The latter targeted only one person: that old martial artist known as "undefeated in same-realm fist fights after reaching the Martial Peak," the foremost martial artist of Liuxia Continent. The reason he had never lost a boxing match was naturally because after reaching the Tenth Realm, he never sparred with anyone again.
But it wasn't the kind of retiring from the martial world with a golden basin. Ye Ku never had any intention of trading blows with this man.
And because Ye Ku had dropped to the Mountain Summit Realm, like Han Guanghu, the Golden Armor Continent martial artist who had also dropped half a realm from Martial Peak, both received invitations to participate in discussions at the Confucian Temple in the Central Earth but declined.
Xi Man asked doubtfully, "Besides Pu Mountain's Huang Yiyi, is Martial Saint Wu Shu also on Tongye Continent? Didn't he go to the Barren Wilderness World?"
Certain Water Residence intelligence reports involving confidential matters would be sent directly from the Central Earth Confucian Temple, so they were better informed than ordinary sects.
Cui Dongshan snickered. "Let me keep you in suspense for now, so Brother Li Ba doesn't get gloomy again and frown with unhappiness."
"Brother Huang Man, you truly deserve the title 'Jade Daoist,' a man of cultivation who has mastered the art of retaining youth. Beautiful as jade! Someday, when our Immortal Metropolis Mountain's Dense Snow Peak holds a Mirror Flower Water Moon performance, we must invite Brother Huang Man to show his face!"
"Too bad that Zhang Tiaoxia, with the Dao name 'Dragon Earl,' is willing to strike Brother Huang Man. The weight of the number one martial artist under heaven's fist—tsk tsk, just thinking about it makes me feel pain on your behalf, Brother Huang Man."
Huang Man smiled faintly. "Seems like it's still not as heavy as Patriarch Cui's words."
Cui Dongshan slapped his chest. "When a scholar speaks, words are aligned with reason. My words never miss!"
Gong Yan giggled. This beautiful woman, nicknamed A'wu, wore palace attire. She was tall and slender in appearance, but in truth, it concealed her plump figure.
She wore her hair in a flowing cloud bun, with a golden step-pendant slanting to the side. With just a touch of light makeup, Gong Yan already had a national-beauty appearance. At her slender waist, which could be encircled with one hand, hung a bronze ancient mirror and a crystal bi disk.
No wonder Huang Man often teased that it was a pity she didn't become an empress.
The men of the world, in their youth, didn't appreciate the subtleties of plumpness; their gazes only lingered on a beauty's face, missing out on much charm.
When it came to outstanding appearance, even as a man, the immortal Huang Man was not inferior to the woman Gong Yan.
In stories of geniuses and beauties, the men seemed to be cast from the same mold: a face like powder, eyebrows slanting into temples, graceful as a jade tree in the wind…
Seeing that white-robed youth start causing trouble again, ahead in the clouds, a thick sea of clouds appeared. The big white goose—the boy—flipped his body, spinning forward, and with his wide sleeves sweeping aside a layer of clouds.
Xi Man transmitted his voice into a line: "Staying with this guy is really torture. I don't know how Chen Ping'an puts up with such a student."
Gong Yan said with a mental laugh, "Earlier, I heard Patriarch Nalan mention that young Hidden Official. His evaluation was interesting: he said Chen Ping'an is a sullen fellow with a belly full of tricks. Usually quiet and taciturn, but his mind is always calculating people's thoughts. Still, generally, he's easy to deal with, as long as you don't provoke him. With a teacher like that, if he also found a student who didn't like to talk, wouldn't they just sit in silence? I think he really needs someone lively like Cui Dongshan to balance the melancholy and vitality between the teacher and student."
Li Ba suddenly interjected, "You're all mistaken. On the contrary, the one with true vitality is the seemingly quiet young Hidden Official, whose Dao heart is profound and melancholic. The one who is truly cynical and jaded is this Patriarch Cui, who treats the world with a semblance of detachment. The former always maintains an optimistic attitude toward the world, while the latter is thoroughly pessimistic. The two are extremes."
Huang Man laughed in agreement. "Li Ba is still very accurate in reading people."
The group passed through the sea of clouds, the path between the clouds like snow banks on both sides.
Cui Dongshan glanced at the young man at the back, named Wang Qiongju by Wang Zhu, with the courtesy name Yusha and Dao name "Han Su" (Cold Flake). In short, except for his surname, everything else related to "snow."
Wang Qiongju had no presence in the team, used as a laborer by Wang Zhu, carrying large and small bundles on his shoulder.
The youth's forehead was slightly protruding, just after refining his form. Among the five fortunes of the former Lizhu Cave Heaven, regardless of their outcomes, in terms of realm, this "four-legged snake" that had once voluntarily attached itself to Song Jixin and Zhigui of the Mud Vase Alley was the most insignificant. He was still only in the Cavern Dwelling Realm. How many meals had he missed to end up like this? The only thing worth mentioning was the large purple gourd that Wang Qiongju carried on his back, with the ancient seal scripts "Capture and Release."
Cui Dongshan withdrew his gaze and began to chatter, "Sister A'wu, are you really not thinking of settling down at the Rain Dragon Sect? You're old acquaintances with Patriarch Nalan. With that personal relationship, getting the position of chief guest elder would be effortless. Being a carefree person who doesn't answer to heaven, earth, or the sect leader—drawing a salary without working—how free and easy! Even I would be envious. I think that gentle fairy Yun Qian would welcome you with open arms. Since Yun Qian was willing to step down as sect leader to become a nominal Discipline Elder, she would probably be more than happy to abdicate again and let you become the Discipline Elder of the sect. Oh, and if that day comes, please be a matchmaker for me. Tell them I'm willing to be the Rain Dragon Sect's chief guest elder. As for salary, it's negotiable; just a token will do."
"Moreover, the Rain Dragon Sect is much closer to Fuyao Continent than the East Sea Water Residence or the Great Li Dynasty's secondary capital, Prince Song Mu's mansion. Your sect isn't doing too well right now. Besides, according to Confucian Temple rules, if no new Jade Pure Realm cultivator appears within the next hundred years, they'll lose the 'Sect' title. Can Sister A'wu really bear to see your master's sect decline like that, like Wang's family celebrating the New Year—worse each year? If you go to the Rain Dragon Sect, when your juniors encounter trouble on Fuyao Continent, you can just fly there quickly. You won't even need to use up the friendships you've built up there; you can handle things yourself. So, in my opinion, becoming the Rain Dragon Sect's founding Discipline Elder, protecting the old sect, and sitting in the ancestral hall with me, the chief guest elder, as an observer—plus forming an alliance between the Rain Dragon Sect and our Green Lotus Sword Sect—it's a triple win. Only a fool would refuse!"
Gong Yan grumbled inwardly, Is this guy a tapeworm in my belly? How does he know everything?
The white-robed youth sighed, his eyes mournful. "That metaphor is inappropriate. Tapeworms are disgusting. I'm more like Sister A'wu's close-fitting little cotton-padded jacket."
Huang Man snorted. This metaphor was probably even more disgusting.
Gong Yan made up her mind not to speak anymore.
She was bold and spicy herself; a few risqué comments were nothing. On Fuyao Continent, Gong Yan was once renowned as a "femme fatale" among the mountains, but even she couldn't outdo this "youth."
Cui Dongshan grinned. "One day, I'll get Old Chef Zhu, Brother Dafeng, Chief Zhou, and Chief Mi together to keep Sister A'wu company for a chat. That would be lively."
Cui Dongshan quickly added, in a vow-like tone, "I guarantee there will be both spicy and vegetarian dishes, both refined and vulgar!"
Wang Zhu said indifferently, "Patriarch Cui, let's get down to business."
Cui Dongshan raised his palm to shield his eyes, gazing into the distance, and laughed. "Almost there. We need to eat and drink our fill to have the energy to talk business."
Wang Zhu followed Cui Dongshan's gaze and saw a winding, green-azure mountain range, like a green snake slithering across the earth. She thought for a moment, recalling this dragon vein running north-south along the west coast of Tongye Continent. Unfortunately, when the Great River was rerouted, the Great River Dragon Lord ordered a waterway to be cut open, severing the complete land dragon qi. This resulted in no strong power emerging along the entire west coast of Tongye Continent, mostly tributaries of larger dynasties.
People said it was split open by a dragon's claw, or others said it was struck apart by lightning.
Cui Dongshan smiled apologetically. "My hospitality is lacking. I can only treat you to a simple vegetarian meal nearby."
The landing spot was a royal Daoist temple built by an emperor in the mountains. It had been almost completely destroyed by the demon army earlier. After the new monarch of this small state ascended the throne, he ordered the Ministry of Works to find the blueprints, spending enormous resources to restore the main hall to its former glory. The other buildings, for now, could not be repaired or constructed.
Cultivators skilled in the art of qi observation could see red and green clouds of auspicious energy floating and lingering in the mountains. This is what geomancy texts call "kingly qi pervading, a dragon's molt hidden here."
Cui Dongshan said, "This mountain temple is honored to have Sister Zhigui stay here. The old and young Daoists in the temple burn incense daily and light lamps at night, spending over ten hu of lamp oil each year. This sincerity hasn't been wasted."
Under Heaven, the Confucian Temple had enfeoffed four new water lords, responsible for governing the four seas. They ranked as first-rank in the newly compiled spirit register of the Central Earth Confucian Temple, equal in rank to the Great God Sui Mountain.
The entire world's water transportation was split in half. Among them, the one with the Dao name "Azure Bell," Lady Dandan from Lushui Pit, governed all land water transportation on the nine continents. However, peak mountain cultivators generally didn't take her seriously.
Besides Wang Zhu, the other three Sea Water Lords had all been promoted step by step from the positions of Great Lake Water Lords on each continent. For example, Li Yihou, the Water Lord of Bright Moon Lake in Central Continent.
Additionally, there was a female Lake Lord, Liu Rouxuan, the Azure Water Primordial Lord of Jingrong Lake, who now sat as the Water Lord of the Western Sea.
This woman with the Dao name Azure Water Primordial Lord had once posted a bounty on the wall of the Sword Master Hall on Hanging Mountain, targeting the Mohist knight-errant Xu Ruo. The twists and turns were unknown to outsiders.
Wang Zhu squinted into the distance and suddenly said, "Patriarch Cui must have spent no small amount of money over there?"
Cui Dongshan rubbed his hands together. "Not too bad, just a few Valley Rain coins. A mere drizzle."
This place was called Hailong Mountain. On a clear, cloudless day, one could climb to the top and see the sea in the distance. The sunrise over the sea was unmatched. Moreover, three thousand years ago, when flood dragons were at their most glorious, the many flood dragon water ministers of the Great River Dragon Palace would travel through the clouds and rain. Many passed through here between the sea and the land. The great dragons, full of rain, emerged from these clouds and moonlight, swept across the earth for ten thousand li, galloping through the azure sky.
As the "patsy" who spent money to help rebuild the temple, Cui Dongshan had not only built a pavilion for observing celestial phenomena but also secretly built a water-measuring and weighing tower specifically to survey the flow trends of the East Sea's water transportation and to verify the amount of water transportation at the future mouth of the Great River. From this, it was clear that Cui Dongshan had long been convinced that his teacher would open a Great River on Tongye Continent. He was merely making preparations before it rained.
Two people were already waiting in the mountains, standing at the gate of the newly built but quaint-looking Daoist temple. However, they were outsiders to the temple.
Cui Wei, the Discipline Elder sword cultivator of the Green Lotus Sword Sect, and Cao Qinglang, the first peak master of Scenery Star Peak. The former had been dragged here by Cui Dongshan as a conscript, while the latter was key to whether the matter would succeed or fail.
"We're here, we're here. I'll reconnoiter first; you all follow."
Cui Dongshan took the lead, suddenly disappearing miles away, then landing. Cao Qinglang bowed precisely and said, "Greetings to Patriarch Cui."
If no outsiders were present, Cao Qinglang would only have called him Senior Brother Cui.
Cui Dongshan shook his sleeves helplessly. "Junior Brother Cao, why not learn from Discipline Elder Cui? You don't have to say a word when you see me. We're still fellow disciples—no need to observe these formalities for outsiders."
Cao Qinglang smiled. "It's a personal rule."
Cui Dongshan's head ached. "Not talking now. Later, when I discuss business with others, watch my eyes and act accordingly."
Until just now, Cao Qinglang had no idea whom his Senior Brother Cui had called him here to meet.
Cui Dongshan rubbed his face with both hands, waiting for Wang Zhu and her group to land. Xi Man, though a pure martial artist and not versed in cultivation, could still reveal his Earth Dragon true form. If nothing else, he would be excellent as a laborer for moving mountains and transporting earth.
As for the Jade Daoist Huang Man, summoning wind and rain was his specialty. Most ordinary cultivators would not dare provoke Zhang Tiaoxia. This old martial artist, who had held the number one seat in the world of martial arts for many years, rarely clashed with others, but when he did, it was never light.
As they neared the mountain temple, Huang Man suddenly transmitted his voice. "Li Ba, you and I, plus Xi Man as backup—three against one. Can we do it?"
As for Gong Yan, forget it. She would definitely not be persuaded. That woman cared about nothing but making money.
Li Ba shook his head. "Don't be impulsive. It's not good to make an enemy of this person."
Xi Man really didn't like this mysterious Patriarch Cui; he felt uncomfortable all over. The white-robed youth's gaze was like an old brothel madam inspecting a virgin courtesan.
But as for exchanging fists with him, Xi Man didn't have such ideas. So when Li Ba refused the Jade Daoist's invitation, Xi Man breathed a sigh of relief.
The group arrived at the mountain gate.
Cui Wei remained unmoved, as always, with a deadpan expression.
Cao Qinglang's expression was gentle. He bowed and said, "Cao Qinglang of Scenery Star Peak, Green Lotus Sword Sect, pays respects to the East Sea Water Lord and to all the immortal masters and seniors."
Wang Zhu nodded with a smile. "In the Great Li capital, I once borrowed and read several of your imperial examination essays. They were very well written—elegant and substantive."
Cao Qinglang smiled. "I received much guidance from my teacher on the art of composition."
Wang Zhu did not comment on that. However, compared to her cold demeanor with Cui Dongshan, her face now showed a bit more warmth toward this "junior" Cao.
Gong Yan and Xi Man exchanged a glance. Damn it, had they finally run into a normal person?
They entered the temple's dining hall, where a meal was already prepared. When Wang Zhu and Cui Dongshan simultaneously lifted their chopsticks, everyone started eating freely.
Cui Dongshan brought up the plan to dig a Great River on Tongye Continent. The Green Lotus Sword Sect, as one of the initiators, sincerely invited Wang Zhu and the East Sea Water Residence to lend their full support and participate.
To the surprise of Gong Yan and the others, Wang Zhu agreed extremely readily.
They knew their mistress's temperament very well. With the water gods' escort missions, many high-ranking water gods had shown their faces frequently. Even when dealing with frequent neighbors like Li Yihou, let alone that occasionally appearing Lady Dandan, Wang Zhu never showed a good face. On the two occasions she had discussed matters with Wang Zhu, Lady Dandan had mostly been the one to put on a smile, not feeling at all embarrassed about warming her face on a cold bottom.
But this was within Cui Dongshan's expectations. When he had mentioned this matter to his teacher earlier, his teacher had hit the nail on the head: if Cui Dongshan handled it, discussing only official matters without personal feelings, business is business, then the probability of success was above eighty percent. However, if Chen Ping'an himself came to "reminisce" with Wang Zhu, the probability of failure would be above eighty percent. Obviously, Chen Ping'an had a very accurate grasp of Wang Zhu's temper.
Digging the Great River would bring Wang Zhu nothing but benefits, a surefire deal. But for Wang Zhu, since the Great River would definitely appear anyway, whether she took action or not depended solely on her mood. This choice was superficially similar to Qing Tong's desire in the Demon-Suppressing Tower to just lie back and enjoy the blessings, but there were still differences. Qing Tong had her own selfish motives—she didn't want a sword cultivator to meddle too much on Tongye Continent, which she considered her own territory. Wang Zhu, on the other hand, was simply… lazy.
With a new Great River connecting Tongye Continent's land and the East Sea waters, all the water gods on Tongye Continent would, on their original basis, become even more subordinate to this East Sea Water Lord.
Previously, the disparity in status forced them to respect Wang Zhu out of propriety, but there was still a distinction between sea and land. In the future, the lifeline of water transportation would be more or less held in Wang Zhu's hands. In short, as soon as the Great River was built, Wang Zhu could completely use its surging water flow to incorporate the central region of Tongye Continent into the East Sea's jurisdiction.
Therefore, after roughly introducing the various allies, Cui Dongshan opened his mouth wide: "The East Sea Water Residence must first pay a sum, not less than the four thousand Valley Rain coins from the Pack Shop. If you're willing to give more, even better—the more the merrier. Additionally, I want to borrow Huang Man and Xi Man to help relocate rivers and move mountains, respectively. On the premise of not delaying the water god escort missions, as soon as both sides have free time, they must immediately come to Tongye Continent to 'report for duty.' As for the specific merits, we will calculate them clearly in the temporary ancestral hall and record them in the register. I'll state in advance: Huang Man and Xi Man will be specifically responsible for digging and dredging a section of the Great River's riverbed. The specific length can be discussed later. Today, we'll first set the general direction."
Huang Man and Xi Man exchanged a look, wordlessly sharing a bitter smile. Weren't they just discussing whether to gang up on this white-robed youth? Was this payback coming so soon?
Wang Zhu said, "Four thousand? No problem. I can add another ten thousand Valley Rain coins."
Cui Dongshan had just picked up a bite of vegetarian food. Hearing this, his wrist trembled, and he almost dropped it back onto the plate. He quickly took a deep breath, raised one hand, and gently held the white sleeve he had named "Beat Stupid Place," nodding like a chicken pecking rice. "Good, it's settled! Fourteen thousand Valley Rain coins!"
Patriarch Cui felt a pang of bitterness. Comparing people really kills. He had no idea how many old dragon palaces, immortal mansion ruins, and sea-special heavenly treasures Wang Zhu had collected in the sea over the years!
Wang Zhu said with slight sarcasm, "Since Patriarch Cui has so many friends on the mountain, why not call a few more to contribute funds to fill the gap?"
Cui Dongshan laughed heartily. "With Sister Zhigui's fourteen thousand Valley Rain coins to settle the matter, that's enough. Borrowing money means owing favors, and that's not a case of 'the more the better.'"
In the business world, the same amount of immortal money, for example, Pack Shop's Zhang Zhi casually taking out four thousand Valley Rain coins and Old Immortal Lu Yong of Green Tiger Temple on Clear Realm Mountain scraping together four thousand Valley Rain coins—both looked like the same amount. But for that business deal, they were completely different concepts. Because when Lu Yong gave money, he just gave money. Zhang Zhi, however, since he was aiming to make money, would provide intangible resources like connections beyond just money. If Pack Shop was like this, then the Liu family of Aiai Continent was even more so.
Cui Dongshan continued, "To dig a Great River leading to the sea with stable water transportation is definitely a long-term matter, not something that can be accomplished in a few years. I ask the Water Residence to transfer a group of assistants and clerks skilled in administrative affairs, at least thirty people, and dispatch at least thirty thousand water immortals, shrimp soldiers, and crab generals. Later, after the water god escort missions are concluded, they will all need to advance inland through the waterway at the river mouth. In short, do whatever they can."
This was also his teacher's secret instruction: when doing business with Wang Zhu, just keep raising the price. If you set it too low, she might feel it's boring.
The four Sea Water Lords each governed all water transportation around the coasts of two continents. In the future, the height and purity of their golden bodies would depend on how far each Water Lord could extend their hand into the land within the Confucian Temple's rules. On Bottle Gourd Continent, Wang Zhu's room for maneuver was extremely limited. With Heavenly Lord Qi Zhen seated at the Divine Proclamation Sect, the two military ancestral courts of Snow Wind Temple and True Martial Mountain, the Yunlin Jiang clan at the entrance of Qi Ferry, plus Despair Mountain, Bright Sun Mountain, Cloud Mist Mountain, etc. Qi Ferry already had two Earls of the Great River: the Spring Marquis Yang Hua and the Drenching Earl Cao Yong. In addition, there were Wei Bo, Jin Qing, Fan Junmao, and the mountain lords of the five sacred mountains on one continent. Moreover, half the continent was part of the Great Li Dynasty's territory...
On the other hand, on Tongye Continent, the East Sea Water Residence clearly had much to do. Here the mountains and rivers were broken, the old immortal mansions were decaying and scattered—some moved to the Five Colors World, some desperately pieced together their old sects, some found new sites... The sects truly worth mentioning were only the local dominant Jade Rule Sect and the invasive Green Lotus Sword Sect. For Wang Zhu and the Water Residence to meddle in land water transportation affairs not only did not violate Confucian Temple ritual rules but would also accumulate merit. That's why Huang Man and Xi Man hadn't bothered to ask Wang Zhu's opinion; they knew they were destined to become laborers.
Cui Dongshan said with a sly smile, "Let me make it clear upfront: firstly, there is a distinction between sea and land; secondly, customs differ. When we later jointly dig the Great River, some conflicts are inevitable. When the Water Residence officials come ashore to participate in council discussions, holding different opinions, arguing is fine, even going outside to fight. But it's best not to cause fatalities, or it will be hard to smooth things over."
The Liu family of Aiai Continent and Zhang Zhi's Pack Shop were easy to deal with. With his teacher's unique golden signboard in the world, and Liu Jubao and Zhang Zhi's well-known methods of managing people, they believed nothing out of line would happen. Only Wang Zhu's Water Residence had the most variables.
Wang Zhu said, "Then let Cao Qinglang be responsible for handling the specific details with the Water Residence. If problems arise, we can communicate in advance and then take them to the council to argue."
Cao Qinglang was caught off guard. He looked at Cui Dongshan.
Cui Dongshan smiled and nodded. "No problem, it's settled. Cao Qinglang has just formed his golden core; he's now an Earth Immortal. Going down the mountain to travel can be put on the agenda. Coincidentally, Cao Qinglang can make a few trips to the East Sea Water Residence to familiarize himself with the situation. However, the sea route is long and perhaps the Water Lord could temporarily lend Cao Qinglang a legendary Dragon God Sea-Crossing Talisman, so he doesn't waste too much time on the journey."
Wang Zhu nodded and smiled. From her sleeve she pulled out a "talisman" that had been lost for ages. It was actually a miniature golden walking dragon. Wang Zhu casually shook it, dispelling the talisman's restrictions, and then lightly tossed it to Cao Qinglang. "No need to be polite. It's a gift to congratulate you on forming your golden core."
A cultivator holding this talisman could enter water as if riding a dragon, traveling through rivers and seas at a speed equal to an Immortal's full-speed travel.
Cao Qinglang caught the "talisman" with both hands, tucked it into his sleeve, stood up, and gave his thanks.
Wang Zhu didn't stand up; she just nodded. Watching this young cultivator with a hint of scholar's pedantry, she smiled.
The formalities and politeness of that Cao Qinglang made Gong Yan and the others increasingly curious. Rare, rare—here was finally a cultivator with a normal mind!
Cui Dongshan sighed with emotion.
This Junior Brother Cao, indeed one of his teacher's two proudest students, was as likable as his senior brother. He had good connections wherever he went.
Wang Zhu threw a chi-flask-sized spatial artifact to Cui Dongshan, shaped like a brush washer and decorated with a coiled chi dragon on celadon. "Inside are fifteen thousand Valley Rain coins. Consider it a round number. The extra thousand can be used to build a residence near this temple, as one of our Water Residence's summer villas on the Tongye Continent shore. Apart from Huang Man and Xi Man being at your disposal, just reserve a seat for Li Ba in that chaotic temporary ancestral hall. For any matters, big or small, the Water Residence side will discuss them with you through Li Ba. His attitude is the Water Residence's intention."
Cui Dongshan hurriedly put down his chopsticks, took the spatial artifact, lifted his sleeve to wipe his mouth, and also followed Cao Qinglang's example by standing up and bowing in thanks.
Harmony brings wealth. After a simple, non-luxurious vegetarian meal, Cui Dongshan was about to return to the Lin River to continue persuading that Luoyang wood merchant named Pang Chao to choose a site on the riverbank. He suggested that Wang Zhu and her party, once they reached Luojing of the Yu Dynasty, must visit the Jicui Temple for tea, then eat at the Lantern Riddle Pavilion, and charge the bill to Dai Yuan of the Azure Seal Sect. Absolutely no need for politeness.
From beginning to end, Discipline Elder Cui Wei remained silent.
If not for Cui Dongshan introducing this Discipline Elder Cui at the dinner table— his hometown being the Sword Qi Great Wall—Huang Man and the others would have mistaken this mute for a native Tongye Continent sword cultivator who had hidden himself deeply, or a family supplicant of Cui Dongshan.
Upon learning that Cui Wei was from the Sword Qi Great Wall, apart from Wang Zhu, Gong Yan and the others found it both unexpected and reasonable. With Chen Ping'an as the last Hidden Official, it wasn't surprising that he had brought back a few sword immortals to the Righteous World. First, Mi Yu, who had shone brightly on the Old Dragon City battlefield, and now this grim-faced Cui Wei. They wondered how high Daoist Cui Wei's realm was and how his swordsmanship compared—was he even higher than Mi Yu?
Cui Wei still said nothing.
Cui Dongshan poked at sore spots, both outsiders and his own people.
As they left the dining hall, Cui Dongshan stopped under the eaves, tucked his hands into his sleeves, and said cheerfully, "Sister Zhigui, now the Green Lotus Sword Sect has two ferry ships. In the future, we'll have more and more immortal ferry ports. Are you interested in partnering on some small business?"
Wang Zhu said, "I'm not short of money. Not interested."
Cui Dongshan raised his arm and wiped his face with his sleeve. Frustrating. Those words hurt their relationship. He shouldn't have brought it up; he was just asking for trouble.
Cui Dongshan said softly, "The highest and brightest are the sun and moon; the greatest and deepest are the rivers and lakes. Hide yourself, embrace the Dao, nurture your true spirit. Calmly observe the changes of heaven, waiting for the right time."
If you are a true dragon, clouds and rain shall flourish.
Wang Zhu remained silent.
Cui Dongshan suddenly broke into a bright smile. "When fortune is at its peak, one must be vigilant; when circumstances are adverse, one must be composed. Of course, this saying can also be reversed. Either way, they sound like good words. I believe that if one is composed in adverse circumstances, luck will naturally turn around, good things will come one after another, steady and stable."
Wang Zhu said, "Patriarch Cui likes to chat so much. Do you want to drink tea and then wine after the meal?"
Cui Dongshan laughed heartily. "No need, no need. There will be plenty of opportunities. Let's save it for now."
Wang Zhu and her group flew away on the wind.
Gong Yan laughed. "The talk about favorable and adverse circumstances had some substance. For once, Cui Dongshan didn't speak nonsense."
Wang Zhu curled her lips in a faint smile. "Because the original words weren't his."
Back at the temple eaves, Cui Dongshan wasn't in a hurry to leave. He smiled and reminded, "In the future, when you deal with Li Ba, you can be polite in small matters, but don't accommodate him in big matters. Don't be afraid to be overbearing. There's no need to curry favor with Li Ba. That old fellow has a donkey's temper—pull and he won't go, push and he retreats. So cursing him is not wasted, nor is hitting him. Additionally, I suspect that Wanyan Laojing once tried to win over Li Ba. Although Li Ba refused, at least he didn't actively inform the Confucian Temple. But this is just a guess. Wanyan Laojing is dead; there's no proof, and we can't arrest Li Ba and torture him. It's possible that Li Ba used some soul-sealing technique to lock his mind, or simply erased this part of his memory."
"Cao Qinglang, assuming this is true, how do you think Li Ba should be dealt with?"
"Although he indeed did nothing, if he had reported this to the Confucian Temple, would fewer people have died on Golden Armor Continent? Could it be said that Li Ba's concealment of this matter—his inaction—indirectly caused those deaths? If Wanyan Laojing's crime of indiscriminate killing is assumed to be ten, how much blame does Li Ba bear?"
"Assuming you have a fifty percent chance of searching Li Ba's soul to find the truth, would you do it? If you hesitate at fifty percent, what about eighty percent or a hundred percent?"
Cui Wei suddenly became nervous.
And he was just an uninvolved outsider.
Cao Qinglang said, "If I were Wanyan Laojing, when I secretly mentioned this to Li Ba, if he refused or if I felt he was merely paying lip service and humoring me, I would have immediately erased Li Ba's memory, removing all traces. Wanyan Laojing was a Flying Ascension cultivator; Li Ba was only a Jade Pure. So even if the latter wanted to inform the Confucian Temple, he couldn't."
"Junior Brother Cao, of course, you are not Wanyan Laojing."
Cui Dongshan laughed. "We are all people who have read the sages' books!"
It seemed that true scholars liked to make things difficult for themselves.
Cao Qinglang suddenly turned sideways, took a few steps back, faced Cui Dongshan, and bowed deeply without rising.
Not only was Cui Wei baffled, but Cui Dongshan also found it strange. "What are you doing? What are you doing?"
Cao Qinglang did not straighten up. With his head down, he mumbled, "Certain question-heart scenarios that Senior Brother sets for Junior Brother—Teacher can endure them, but I cannot. So please, Senior Brother Cui, be merciful!"
Cui Dongshan stamped his foot. "Nonsense, nonsense! It's like a dull hammer hitting my heart. You touch your conscience and tell me: Does Little Senior Brother look like someone who can't keep his head straight?!"
Cao Qinglang straightened up and smiled. "I don't care about that. Anyway, I will quickly report this to the teacher. Consider it preparing for the worst. If that day really comes, I won't be the only one suffering; Senior Brother won't be able to run away either!"
Cui Dongshan ground his teeth in anger, pointing at this junior brother. "By heaven and earth, by the sun and moon! Little Senior Brother doesn't have such thoughts at all. But you, by creating something out of nothing and then tattling to the teacher—have you considered Little Senior Brother's situation? Huh? Is there any junior brother in the world like you? That sea-crossing talisman in your sleeve, still warm—how did you get it? If Wang Zhu had pretended not to understand the hint, I, as your Little Senior Brother, would have had to snatch it for you! And this is how you repay me? You have to put yourself in others' shoes!"
Cao Qinglang said seriously, "Senior Brother Cui himself said, 'When circumstances are adverse, one must be composed.'"
Cui Dongshan was stunned for a moment, then shook his sleeves and shouted, "Discipline Elder Cui, stop me immediately, or I will have to teach the sect's arts on behalf of the teacher!"
Cui Wei wasn't stupid. He laughed. "This is family business between you brothers. Why should an outsider like me meddle? I'd only end up offending both sides."
Cui Dongshan's eyes rolled rapidly. He stood on tiptoe, wrapped his arm around Cao Qinglang's shoulder, and said, "Junior Brother Cao, don't tell on me. I mean it. I'm begging you. Teacher is finding fault with me in every way right now, and you are his most valued proud student, maybe even the only one. If you add this incident, it really won't be appropriate."
"Cao Qinglang, don't forget—now I'm a sect patriarch, and you're just a peak master of Scenery Star Peak. Even if we set aside our brotherly feelings, don't be disrespectful to a superior! I have truly inherited the teacher's methods; I'm the least petty grudge-holder when traveling the jianghu!"
"Brother Cao! Have mercy! Have pity on me! If the teacher finds out about this, he'll really beat me to a pulp. But I'm innocent! Grandpa Cao, little ancestor, do I really have to kneel down and kowtow to you? Cui Wei, stop watching the show! Get out of the way quickly. Come back after I finish kowtowing..."
Cao Qinglang, of course, wouldn't actually let Senior Brother Cui do that. He grabbed his arms and smiled, promising, "I definitely won't tell."
Cui Dongshan was half-doubtful. "I don't believe you. You have to swear an oath."
Cao Qinglang smiled. "Then forget it."
Cui Dongshan quickly reversed and grabbed Cao Qinglang's arm. "Little Senior Brother was joking. If I don't trust anyone, I wouldn't distrust Junior Brother Cao."
"Teacher should be home by now."
After leaving the temple, Cao Qinglang looked at the green mountains and rivers of early spring beyond the mountains and suddenly said, "Senior Brother Cui, it seems on Despair Mountain, when it snows, the snow turns white earlier than elsewhere, and when it melts, it melts slower."
Cui Dongshan breathed a sigh of relief and hummed in agreement.
He understood what Junior Brother Cao was implying—it was about their teacher's state of mind.
Outsiders saw a beautiful snow-covered mountain, but beneath the beauty, there was hardship. Perhaps people like him, Cui Dongshan, and Cao Qinglang knew about it, but how much hardship—surely no one knew.
Life is full of helplessness. The bitterness of suffering in vain, the bitterness that is too bitter to speak—both are hard to endure. A lifetime seems like drinking wine without getting drunk, drinking tea without needing a sweet aftertaste, so one doesn't feel the bitterness. How should one talk about that?
Cao Qinglang said softly, "Walking the night road, it's not difficult to walk with your head down. The fear is when you look up and see suspicious eyes like lanterns, ghostly flames on all sides, and rumors like raging floods."
Cui Dongshan put his hands behind his head and smiled. "Mutual encouragement."
Whether complaining or encouraging himself, Cao Qinglang was qualified to say these words.
How many youths leave their hometown and never look back.
Some aim high and refuse to look back.
But some are still youths but already dare not look back at their childhood.
Cui Dongshan was silent for a moment, then turned his head with a pitiful expression. "Junior Brother Cao, please just swear an oath. Otherwise, Little Senior Brother won't be able to sleep."
It wasn't that he didn't trust Cao Qinglang, but Cui Dongshan didn't trust some of the traditions in his own literary lineage!
Cao Qinglang smiled. "Senior Brother Cui, chatting like this is no fun."
Cui Dongshan raised one hand and crooked his finger toward the sky, muttering under his breath, "Dong dong dong, hong long long." Sure enough, thunder rumbled from the clear sky.
Cui Dongshan squinted at the blazing sun.
The sun hung high in the sky, impossible to gaze at for long.
It was said that the sun is the convergence of countless human hearts.