Chapter 999: Spring Mountain Flowers Blazing Like Fire
A region nurtures its people. The vastness of the Nine Provinces, with the passage of time, each land had its own talisman of suppression. For instance, the ten-thousand-year-old parasol tree was such a token for the Parasol Leaf Continent.
Similarly, the Vase Continent, whose landscape was shaped like a water bottle, followed the same principle.
Deep within the earth's veins lay a boundless primeval void realm, heavy with prohibitions. Aside from the two opposing parties, suspended in the air was a square iron box covered in ancient seal scripts. Below the iron box was a crude wooden tray-like plank that seemed to levitate the box.
Xie Gou sat cross-legged in this primeval void realm, arms crossed, a look of approval in her eyes. With an air of seasoned authority, she said, "Breaking through two layers of mountain and river restrictions, and smashing through three more with treasures and brute force—getting this far is already quite a feat. Isn't there an old story about visiting a friend in a snowstorm? You all came in high spirits, and you can leave in high spirits. See, it's snowing. What a heavy goose-feather snow."
The moment she said it would snow, it did.
With friend and foe yet to be determined, Song Xu sent a mental message to the other five, urging them not to act hastily.
Facing a great cultivator who could conceal their qi and follow them all the way here, they dared not be careless. The five cultivators of the Earthly Branch were on high alert. Yu Yu, who wore a waist token inscribed with the character "Xu," clasped her hands in a sealing mudra, radiating treasure light. Her hands and the backs of her hands were covered in ancient cloud-patterned seal scripts. On her shoulder appeared a miniature ancient sword immortal's yin spirit, bearing the youthful visage of a young boy, wearing a hibiscus Taoist crown, a vermilion robe, and a string of white pearls sewn into the garment's seams.
The "Wu" array master, Han Zhoujin, without needing to chant incantations or form hand seals, conjured a celestial palace with crimson earth and rising purple qi, where sacred treasures sang praises like heavenly music.
The young monk, wearing a plain white gauze meditation robe and a waist token marked "Chen," formed a dharma seal. With one eye open and one closed, a lightning pool arose from the closed eye, and a lotus pond appeared beneath his feet.
Xie Gou clicked her tongue in wonder. "Using the methods of a seamstress to commit an act of overstepping, daring to command the heroic spirit of an ancient sword immortal, and refining a residence where an ancient celestial governed the mountains and rivers. The little monk's visualization of Pure Mindfulness, connecting yin and yang, light and dark, with a blink of an eye. Even a Buddhist practitioner has learned the stinky Taoist's Five Thunder True Method. Each of you is truly remarkable—talents, all talents! Truly worthy young elites!"
Yu Yu mentally transmitted to the others, "Hurry up and do a divination to test the waters. See what kind of person this is. If we can't win, we run. We can always call for backup later."
They couldn't determine the true age of this girl in the sable cap. Her realm had to be at least the upper five realms, and she was a cultivator not recorded in the Ministry of Justice of Great Li. That was strange—could she be a cultivator from outside who had just infiltrated the Vase Continent?
The young novice monk pressed his palms together, murmuring, "May the Buddha bless us with no trouble today. Even if there is a scare, may there be no danger. May everyone be safe and sound. When I get back, I'll donate oil money to the temple—not a transaction, just an offering of the heart."
That uninvited guest with two rosy spots on her cheeks seemed to have heard their inner voices. She grinned and said, "Little Taoist, no need to waste your energy on a divination. We're all on the same side, you know—twisting and turning, we're practically family. There's definitely no fight to be had here."
The young novice monk pressed his palms together again and silently recited, "May the Buddha bless us."
Yet another case of running into a wall and meeting a hidden master.
They should have checked the almanac before leaving home.
Yu Yu chuckled, "Family? On the same side? What do you mean, senior? You're not joking, are you?"
Xie Gou smiled faintly. "Believe it or not, that's up to you."
Sensing the Taoist Ge Ling's abnormality, Yu Yu asked in confusion, "A divination is just a divination. Spitting blood would be normal, but why did you close your eyes? Hey, why are you crying?"
Ge Ling blinked. His eyes were bloodshot. Helplessly, he said, "It's very strange. It's like a great sun right in front of me. Just one look, and I couldn't take it."
Yu Yu said bitterly, "Alright, so it's still a matter of chopping vegetables and melons."
Ge Ling smiled bitterly and nodded.
The other party was very likely an immortal.
Now that they had Zhou Haijing, a peak martial artist, to fill the final gap, if all twelve of them were present, they would have a fighting chance. Unfortunately, Yuan Huajing and the other five were at the Eternal Spring Palace and hadn't accompanied them on this treasure hunt.
Xie Gou sighed. "This is what happens when you don't listen to advice. 'If you don't listen to your elders, trouble will be right at hand.' Isn't that old saying accurate?"
"We can't contact Yuan Huajing and the others for now, and Mr. Chen isn't here either. What do we do?"
The girl stomped her foot. "Do I really have to drink?!"
Earlier at the Gaiyan Inn, Mr. Chen had imparted teachings to each of them, eliminating hidden dangers to prevent future heart demons on the path of cultivation. When it came to Yu Yu, Chen Ping'an had given her three words: "Drink more wine."
In their small faction, the leader was the sword cultivator Song Xu, while the strategist and advisor was the seemingly carefree Yu Yu.
Xie Gou, with an air of leisure, pointed at the box. "I strongly advise you not to open this iron box. If you do, you'll find yourselves and your souls melting like snow in an instant. Don't think it's just some trivial heresy. This kind of annihilation is real—you'll be reduced to ashes. Even if a flying ascension realm great cultivator, or one of those ancient eccentrics with vast powers, could follow you all the way to Fengdu, they wouldn't be able to save you. If you can't catch what's inside the box, it will fall. First, it will smash through that layer of wooden plank that has lost its array support—like a piece of iron smashing through thin paper. Then it will crash straight through the bedrock of the Vase Continent, plunging into the mountain roots deep in the sea. The sea water will boil like a steamer, and the entire Vase Continent will become a cauldron, causing devastation across the land. With just your meager realms, you won't be able to handle it."
It was fortunate that she had arrived early. If she had been a step later, and these kids had taken the box into their possession, the true ownership of this item would be a messy, indefinable account.
Moreover, Xie Gou really didn't think they could take the iron box away. What she had just said wasn't entirely an exaggeration. The newborn Golden Crow imprisoned inside the box was a primal ancient species, an extremely rare fire essence, naturally wild and unruly. Once its restraints were broken by the outside world, and these cultivators lacked the means to clean up the mess, the Golden Crow would indeed smash straight through the bedrock of the Vase Continent, leaving a huge "earth gap." Then it would disappear without a trace, fleeing into the outer void—and capturing it afterwards would be as difficult as reaching the heavens.
Song Xu twisted his wrist, and a bottle-shaped treasure appeared in his hand. "We are not completely unprepared. I have this item to receive the exotic treasure inside the box."
This item was given to Song Xu by Mr. Yuan of the Imperial Observatory, and it was excavated from a newly discovered blessed land that the Great Li court had just found.
Discovering the blessed land, entering it to obtain the treasure, and then coming here to the Yu Province's earth veins to receive the "Golden Crow" in the box—everything was interconnected, all thanks to Yuan Tianfeng's great path deductions and meticulous calculations.
"The imperial heavens match the earth god; the earth deity yanks the water bottle; the pulley at the well spins swiftly; the water bottle makes no crackling sound; the fiery tree lowers its branches."
Xie Gou narrowed her eyes for a look, somewhat surprised. There was a bit of skill here. This was indeed a treasure specifically countering hers. It seemed that someone with great knowledge stood behind them.
If it had been Bai Jing back then, she wouldn't have cared about anything else. Seeing an old relic of the Fire Hall that had fallen to the mortal world, which already bore her own dao marks, she would have just split the iron box with one sword stroke, snatched the newborn, intelligent Golden Crow into her sleeve, and not cared whether it triggered a continental pulse tremor. But now that she had left the Falling Mountain, and Xiao Mo was so at ease with her departure that he hadn't even followed to "keep watch," Xie Gou found herself showing a bit more patience.
Xie Gou rubbed her chin, feeling a bit troubled. To prove that this sun that had fallen to the earth was owned, she would have to cut open the box with her sword to convince the crowd.
And these kids, who didn't know the gravity of the situation, clearly wanted this Golden Crow at all costs. If this were the Barren Wasteland Wilderness, it would be simple—just a matter of killing a few ants that weren't even at the upper five realms, taking no more than three sword strikes.
For one thing, she didn't want to cause trouble in the Normal Mortal World; for another, she didn't want to disappoint Xiao Mo's trust. After much thought, Xie Gou forced herself to offer a compromise, one that didn't align with her usual style. "Let's consider it a trade. I'll give you a treasure of celestial soldier rank, so you don't go back empty-handed and can report to your superiors."
Song Xu shook his head. "Even if you offered dozens of celestial soldiers, we wouldn't agree. It's not that I'm being unreasonable, and I certainly don't intend to haggle. It's just that this item is indispensable to our Great Li dynasty."
Xie Gou stood up and grinned. "I think you still don't fully understand the situation, and that's why you think you have a choice. What do you think?"
Yu Yu mentally transmitted, "Should we bring up Mr. Chen's name to scare them?"
After the last incident at the Great Li capital, the cultivators of the Earthly Branch had reached a consensus.
When in trouble, consult Mr. Chen.
The Great Li court had just discovered a new blessed land with no records. The strangest thing was that this blessed land had a moon but no sun, a deficiency in the great path. Hence, they urgently needed this ancient fallen sun to fill the gap.
"I told you, we're connected by marriage. Or do you think I'd be wasting so much saliva for nothing? If it weren't for that connection, given my temper, hah."
Xie Gou shook her wrist. "My dao partner is Xiao Mo, the one who follows Chen Ping'an. His dao name is Xi Zhu, and his name is Mo Sheng. He's been to the Great Li capital's palace. You've definitely studied his background and resume inside out. He's much more handsome than Chen Ping'an."
Xie Gou crossed her arms and laughed. "As for me, I just gave myself a new name: Plum Flower. My original name is Xie Gou—not that pleasant, eh?"
Wasn't there a poem that went: "South of the city, on a small path, spring comes again; only plum blossoms are seen, no sign of him."
Xie Gou stated for the last time, "It's useless to reason with Chen Ping'an about this. What's mine is mine. If you keep nagging me, don't blame me for getting tough."
Of course, Xie Gou wouldn't kill them—that would only make things difficult for Xiao Mo.
Just as Xie Gou was about to deliver her first sword strike, a scholarly figure in Confucian robes appeared out of nowhere in this primeval void realm.
Layers of prohibitions seemed nonexistent to him; he walked in as if entering an empty land.
He looked like a scholar, yet he exuded such a strong Buddha dharma aura that it hit Xie Gou like a wave.
Could this person have just returned from the Western Buddhist Kingdom?
Song Xu and his group were even more shocked. How could it be Li Xisheng of the Fu Lu Street Li family in the Pearl Bead Cave Heaven?
Actually, they had already been surprised enough to learn that Li Xisheng had been invited to participate in the Three Teachings Debate this time.
Among the younger generation of the Pearl Bead Cave Heaven, Li Xisheng was a very inconspicuous presence. Regarding this person, the Great Li Ministry of Justice files only had a few simple entries. Two of them recorded that he had once fought with the outsider sword cultivator Cao Jun at Mud Vase Alley. Li Xisheng had also drawn talismans on the bamboo building of Falling Mountain. But the outcome of that fight and the effects of the talismans were not recorded.
"Just in time."
Positioned to support each other, Li Xisheng looked at the two groups that had arrived earlier and smiled. "This item is related to my sister's great path. Whether it's you, senior, forcefully opening the iron box with exceptional swordsmanship, or you all loading the sun into the ancient bottle personally crafted by Mr. Yuan of the Imperial Observatory, I think neither approach is particularly safe. Before that, I think we need to make a cut first."
Xie Gou grinned. "Judging by your tone, are you saying it would be safe if you did it instead?"
Li Xisheng nodded. "I know a few talismans that happen to be useful here."
Xie Gou started to chuckle stupidly, then adjusted her sable cap. This time, she was genuinely a bit angry.
The one thing she couldn't stand was people showing off in front of her, comparing their cultivation talent with hers!
Li Xisheng smiled and explained, "Don't misunderstand, senior. I'm only here to ensure that no one covets this item. After I open the box and tame the Golden Crow, so it won't run wild and cause continental tremors, you can all sit down and discuss calmly to decide its ownership."
Song Xu was the first to extend goodwill to Li Xisheng. "Song Xu greets Mr. Li."
The girl grinned and introduced herself, "Yu Yu of the Horse Dung Yu Clan."
"Ge Ling of Jurong, currently serving as the capital's Dao Registrar."
"Lu Hui, former student of the Old Cliff Academy."
"Han Zhoujin of the Clear Pond Blessed Land."
The young monk pressed his hands together and said shyly, "Hou Jue of the Capital's Translation Bureau. Not yet fully ordained."
Li Xisheng returned their greetings with a bow and smiled. "Li Xisheng of Dragon Spring Commandery, older brother of Li Baoping."
Xie Gou probed, "How long have you been back from the Western Buddhist Kingdom? A month? Or a few days?"
Li Xisheng mentally transmitted, "I just arrived here from the Huo Xia Temple on She Mountain."
If not for detecting the anomaly here, Li Xisheng would not have returned to the Normal Mortal World so soon, and upon returning, his first destination would have been White Emperor City.
Xie Gou was skeptical.
Who do you think you are? The Fourteen Realm?
---
After leaving the Eternal Spring Palace, Lin Shouyi first went to the capital with Yuan Huajing's group. Actually, breaking through to the Jade Pu realm didn't require him to register in person at the Ministry of Justice, but Lin Shouyi had always maintained a good relationship with the Great Li court. Otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to serve as the temple priest of Qi Crossing back then. Lin Shouyi's strict adherence to rules and his flawless conduct had earned him a reputation as a true gentleman, and that had also given him an excellent reputation in both the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Justice. When he "checked in" at the Ministry of Justice, everyone came to congratulate him.
Afterwards, Lin Shouyi flew by wind magic to the Logging Office in Hong Province.
The Logging Office was currently idle. Lin Zhengcheng sat in a quiet, lonely office building. Officials were not allowed to drink alcohol while on duty, so on his table were just a few plates of salted peanuts and other snacks. When he saw Lin Shouyi, the man said nothing, just tossed a peanut into his mouth and chewed slowly.
Lin Shouyi took out a few jugs of Eternal Spring Palace celestial wine from his sleeve and placed them on the table. He said it was a gift from Song Yu, the Supreme Elder. In the future, if his father wanted to drink this kind of wine, he only needed to notify the Eternal Spring Palace, and it would be delivered directly to the Logging Office. The cost of the wine would be charged to Lin Shouyi's account.
Lin Zhengcheng glanced at the rare celestial wine, which was now hard to come by even among the mountain cultivators of the Vase Continent, but he didn't seem particularly appreciative. "It's too expensive to drink yourself, and you have no one to give it to. Take it back."
Lin Shouyi smiled. "I heard that Fu Hu, your former superior at the Capital Victory Report Office, is now the county magistrate of Pingnan County. You could give it to him."
Lin Zhengcheng thought for a moment and didn't refuse. Fu Hu's appointment as an external official, serving as the chief magistrate of a superior county, was thanks to Lin Zhengcheng having spoken to the two directors at the Ministry of War's Officer Selection Office and the Ministry of Rites' Appointments Office. He hadn't directly helped him ask for the position, just put in a few good words. The Great Li court, catching the hint, had conveniently given Fu Hu a substantive vacancy—a top-tier transfer in terms of importance.
When it came to judging people, Lin Zhengcheng certainly had great skill. Otherwise, how could he have been the gatekeeper of the Pearl Bead Cave Heaven?
Lin Zhengcheng lifted his chin toward the door. Lin Shouyi understood immediately—his father was about to have a few drinks—so he waved his sleeve, and the door closed.
Lin Zhengcheng frowned slightly, and Lin Shouyi's expression immediately turned awkward.
Lin Zhengcheng didn't lecture him on principles. Instead, he tapped the table with one finger. Lin Shouyi promptly took out cups and poured the wine.
Lin Zhengcheng took a sip of the wine, savored it for a moment, and then said, "So you've reached the Jade Pu realm. That's crossing a major threshold. You're over forty now—quite old. In the mortal world, if you married early, you might even have grandchildren by now. It's time I spoke plainly with you about some things."
Lin Shouyi fortified himself with a drink and laughed. "Dad, don't just vaguely say 'over forty.' Do you even know my exact age?"
Lin Zhengcheng thought for a moment and asked, "How many years older are you than Chen Ping'an?"
Lin Shouyi felt deeply aggrieved. So you only remember Chen Ping'an's age, but you can't remember your own son's? He said wryly, "Dad, am I really your biological son?!"
Lin Zhengcheng said calmly, "You'd have to ask your mother about that. My word isn't definitive."
Lin Shouyi was at a loss. He reached out, picked up a peanut, tossed it into his mouth, and began to drink gloomily.
Lin Zhengcheng pushed the plate of dried bamboo shoots beside him closer to Lin Shouyi. "Lu Chen came to see me at the end of last year. He talked about some old, forgotten matters. He thinks I caused you to lose a great opportunity, allowing many benefits that should have been yours to be transferred to Chen Ping'an. You can't take everything Lu Chen says as gospel, but you can't ignore it completely either. Take half of it as truth."
Lin Shouyi asked, "Dad, could you be more specific?"
Lin Zhengcheng drank a gulp of wine, waved his hand to indicate he'd pour himself, and then gave Lin Shouyi a rough overview of some old stories and insider information.
Lin Shouyi thought it over. "Even if I had known about this gambling table that could gamble against heaven and earth... I still wouldn't have been able to compete with Chen Ping'an. I lack perseverance. Aside from reading my own books and cultivating on my own, I'm too lazy about everything else. I have no ambition at all. Besides, if I had known all this—unless I'd figured it out myself—the moment someone leaked the heavenly secret to me, I would have directly lost my qualification and automatically left the gambling table. So don't overthink it, Dad, and don't let it become a knot in your heart. The life I have now—I think it's the best."
"Moreover, matters of destiny and opportunity are incredibly complex and unpredictable. Especially when we step onto the path of cultivation, the river of time has countless countercurrents, backtrackings, and diverging streams. What was wrong yesterday might be right today; what is right today might be wrong tomorrow, and then wrong again the day after. Such things happen all the time."
"At the end of the day, this struggle for crossing, in which our generation was all kept in the dark, comes down to each relying on their own abilities. Win or lose, we must accept it."
"There's no point in seeking outside the mind."
Seeing the clarity in Lin Shouyi's eyes and his dignified demeanor, Lin Zhengcheng showed a rare hint of softness toward his son, but he quickly restrained it. "What did you say to Chen Ping'an?"
Lin Shouyi said, "I told him he could come here to pay a New Year's visit."
Mountain Lord Chen, you've caused me no end of trouble!
Lin Zhengcheng looked up, frowning.
Seeing that sullen expression on his father's face, Lin Shouyi felt a subconscious fear. It showed just how much authority Lin Zhengcheng held. After a moment of thought, Lin Shouyi steeled himself and said, "In my letter, I told Chen Ping'an he could come here for the New Year. I think Chen Ping'an, with his exceptional intelligence, would understand what that implies."
Lin Zhengcheng smiled a cold smile. "'Could,' not 'must'? You're a scholar who weighs every word very carefully, aren't you?"
Then Lin Zhengcheng raised his cup. "Shouldn't I then toast to such a literary seed? Once you pass the imperial examinations and come home as a top scholar, I'll personally go set off firecrackers at the door."
Lin Shouyi raised his cup, lowering it as low as possible. He lightly clinked it with his father's cup. Before drinking, he said plaintively, "Dad, can you not talk like that in the future?"
Lin Zhengcheng took a sip of wine. "Is this a father teaching his son how to be a man and how to speak?"
Lin Shouyi was speechless again. He poured himself another cup and downed it in one gulp.
Lin Zhengcheng said, "I wasn't joking about you taking the Great Li imperial exams. A top scholar at over forty isn't too old. Even if you don't come first, as long as you're in the top three of the first class, or even in the second class, that's acceptable."
Lin Shouyi asked with curiosity, "Dad, you've never been obsessed with officialdom. So why do you want so badly to hang a 'Jinshi and Above' plaque in our family ancestral hall?"
"When there's surplus grain at home, even the pigs can eat their fill. A household with many books and virtuous descendants brings good fortune. Learning is a blessing."
Lin Zhengcheng said, "I wish only for my slow-witted son to reach high office without illness or calamity, to enjoy great wealth and a long life."
The weather gradually grew warm.
Outside the door, the magnolia flowers in the courtyard had bloomed.
---
In the southern Vase Continent, where many states were restoring their kingdoms or establishing new ones, on the fragmented territory of the former Great Frost Dynasty, a new Cloud Soaring Dynasty had risen, occupying nearly half of the old territory. It had become one of the most powerful states in the southern Vase Continent. The only blemish was that the Hong clan of Cloud Soaring had failed to win over the Spirit Flying Temple of the immortal lord Cao Rong.
The current temple master's dao name was "Dongting." Outside the temple, on the border between the two countries, he had opened a new battlefield site as his dao ground. It was said that this Daoist true lord was skilled in incantations, cultivated the Six Jia Upper Dao, and held green essence jade talismans that could command yin soldiers to serve him as laborers.
On the northeastern border of Cloud Soaring, in a remote range of high mountains rarely visited by humans, where no cultivator had ever opened a cave dwelling, Hu Feng and Wu Tijing, two young sword cultivators who had hit it off, were formally establishing their own sect.
The "ceremony" consisted of setting off a few strings of firecrackers and setting out a table of wine and snacks.
But even this patch of territory, with sparse spiritual energy and barely suitable for a dao ground, attracted a group of earth masters from the Cloud Soaring Hong clan. They declared that this area was one of the sources of a river enfeoffed by the court. Since they were opening a sect here, the two of them would have to go to the capital to register with the Ministry of Rites, providing their names, origins, and master-discipleship. Only after the court verified their identities and qualifications could they officially establish the sect. Moreover, they would have to pay an annual "rent" to the court... In short, they recited a mountain of red tape, so much so that Wu Tijing was about to draw his sword and cut them down.
But as soon as they heard that Hu Feng was from Dragon Spring Commandery, Chu Province, of the Great Li dynasty, the attitudes of the Hong clan court and local officials did a complete one-eighty.
Not only did they stop hassling Hu Feng, but they proactively asked the two outsider immortal masters if they would like the nearby prefectural and county offices to post public notices, issuing a mountain ban to prevent woodcutters, herbalists, and other mundane folk from stumbling into the area and disturbing their cultivation.
Afterwards, a Ministry of Rites official came specially to visit, accompanied by an elderly cultivator who had once traveled through the old Dragon Prefecture area. They found Hu Feng and chatted for a bit, carefully choosing their words. In fact, they were just verifying Hu Feng's identity as a Great Li citizen. When they found that Hu Feng spoke accurately about his hometown's customs, they dared not ask further and quickly returned to the capital, satisfied that they had enough to report to the court.
At the foot of the mountain, watching them leave, Wu Tijing asked, "Why bother with all that? Couldn't they just send a letter to Great Li's Chu Province to ask whether there's someone named Hu Feng in Erlang Lane? It's a small matter that a single letter could solve."
Hu Feng shook his head. "They wouldn't dare bother the Great Li court over such a trivial matter. Besides, the various states in the southern Vase Continent are most afraid of the Ministry of Justice's Sticky Pole Operatives showing up at their door."
Wu Tijing laughed. "Judging by the way things are going, the Hong clan of Cloud Soaring would practically worship you. From the way they talk, if you nodded, you could become the royal teacher? Is the Great Li identity really that valuable?"
Hu Feng said calmly, "This is only true for the past few decades. It wasn't like this before. Mountain immortals and lowland literati used to grovel before the Lu dynasty and the Great Sui Gao clan. Even after the Great Li iron cavalry swallowed the Lu dynasty, many scholars and refined men still admired other states, licking the boots of outsiders while nitpicking everything at home. As Dong Shuijing puts it, they're people who kneel and talk tough; people who could stand tall choose to speak on their knees."
"During Cui Chan's tenure as state preceptor, didn't he put a stop to it? How frustrating."
Wu Tijing found it amusing. "It's better now, isn't it?"
"State Preceptor Cui's knowledge was vast, and his duties heavy. I suppose he had no time for such things. Or maybe he just didn't care. I suspect that deep down, Cui Chan never really regarded them as scholars."
Hu Feng nodded. "Now those scholars have changed their tune. How could us common folk compete with them in intelligence and wit—they've had the benefit of education."
As they climbed the mountain again, the two sword cultivators chatted. Hu Feng, year-round dressed in coarse linen and straw sandals, had a stocky build and looked to be in his early twenties, though he was actually over forty. But he had a dull, wooden expression and a blank look in his eyes.
On the other hand, Wu Tijing, who was actually under twenty, was handsome and had the bearing of a true immortal. He wore a blue-green dharma robe, a purple jade crown, and a white jade belt.
Because Hu Feng was worried that revealing their whereabouts would attract unnecessary trouble, he had Wu Tijing use an alias to avoid tracking by the Zhengyang Mountain.
One was at the Dragon Gate realm, the other at the Golden Core realm. Both concealed their sword cultivator identities.
Although their realms were enough to roam freely in Cloud Soaring, whose state preceptor was only at the Nascent Soul stage, caution is the mother of safety.
There were many old sayings in the town, like "If you walk the night path too often, you're bound to meet a ghost." Or, "A man down on his luck might turn around and pick up gold from a dung heap."
Wu Tijing was extremely self-confident, almost arrogant, while Hu Feng was gentle and slow-spoken.
Now their sect had exactly two people—one as the sect master, the other as the law keeper.
As they talked, they came around to sect affairs. Hu Feng, like a nagging old woman, kept going on about how Wu Tijing, when leaving Zhengyang Mountain, should have brought some immortal money instead of leaving empty-handed, without even a money pouch.
Wu Tijing, getting annoyed, raised his voice. "Hu Feng, stop that! Why do you keep bringing this up?!"
Hu Feng completely ignored the suddenly agitated Wu Tijing and continued slowly, "Even a clever housewife can't cook without rice; even a hero is stymied by a penny short. I don't need to tell you what our sect's situation is like now."
The sect master continued as if to himself, "Anyway, in the future, if our sect ever has another lineage cultivator like you who doesn't want to stay, I'll make sure to give him a money pouch, no matter how small. At least a few Grain Rain coins."
Wu Tijing put his hands behind his head. "There are treasures everywhere in that cave heaven of yours. Just pick a few and sell them—we'd have everything we need. No need to be staring at each other like two paupers."
Hu Feng shook his head. "I made a rule for myself: nothing from the Cicada Shell can be taken outside."
He turned his head. "If you like, I'll give you the Cicada Shell. But you have to promise me that until you reach the upper five realms, you'll abide by that rule."
Wu Tijing waved his hand to decline. Just getting a Dragon-Slaying Stone from Hu Feng had already made this genius sword cultivator feel guilty. He joked, "Hu Feng, isn't that what they call 'penny wise and pound foolish' generosity?"
Hu Feng truly meant to offer the cave heaven; it wasn't a test of character. But Wu Tijing would never accept it—he didn't like owing favors.
Hu Feng's ancestral home was on Erlang Lane. Nowadays, everyone in the Vase Continent marveled at Mud Vase Alley as a hidden dragon and crouching tiger's "golden jade dao ground." But in truth, Apricot Blossom Lane and Erlang Lane were no slouches either. Fu Lu Street and Peach Leaf Lane had only produced the Ministry of Justice Vice Minister Zhao Yao and Xie Ling of the Dragon Spring Sword Sect.
As a child, Hu Feng had followed his grandfather, who ran a happy event shop, through the streets and alleys, repairing pots, pans, bowls, and sharpening kitchen knives.
Later, when the Pearl Bead Cave Heaven fell to the world and the sky changed, Hu Feng followed the townspeople in a hubbub to the Dragon Beard River. There, he had picked up eight beautiful stones, selling them to two families on Fu Lu Street and Peach Leaf Lane for a large sum of silver. Then, in the prefectural city, he used part of that money to buy some houses. Before leaving his hometown, he entrusted them to Dong Shuijing to rent out.
Another portion of the silver he gave to Dong Shuijing as joint venture capital. If they lost money, it would be considered a loss; if they made a profit, it would be reinvested. As for what Dong Shuijing did with the money, Hu Feng didn't care.
They had known each other very well from a very young age, but they hadn't started as friends.
Both Hu Feng and Dong Shuijing came from poor families—but because they each had an elder to rely on, their lives weren't too impoverished. Back then, they both liked to rummage through the old porcelain mountain, often meeting there. Dong Shuijing liked to pick up broken porcelain pieces with characters, while Hu Feng preferred those with pictures. For the first few years, they didn't speak. Then Dong Shuijing spoke first. The two children hit it off and developed a tacit understanding. Every day before sunset, after leaving the porcelain mountain, they would get together and barter. In this way, their hauls notably improved.
Now, whenever Hu Feng thought back, he sincerely admired Dong Shuijing's business instincts. Some talents seemed inborn, needing no teaching.
Every year on the second day of the second month, his grandfather would take Hu Feng to the Immortal Tomb to kowtow.
After leaving his hometown, on that day, Hu Feng would also face the direction of his home and offer three sticks of incense from afar.
This was his grandfather's instruction, and Hu Feng dared not forget.
Wu Tijing asked, "Have you figured out how to repay Li Huai?"
Hu Feng shook his head. "Not yet."
Wu Tijing suddenly said, "Why not contact Dong Shuijing?"
Hu Feng asked in confusion, "Didn't you always say you never ask for help?"
If not for considering Wu Tijing's pride and feelings, Hu Feng would have already considered that option. They were from the same hometown, knew each other's background, and had done business together since childhood. They trusted each other.
Wu Tijing laughed. "I'm an unparalleled sword genius, a genius among geniuses. But I don't have the power to turn stone into gold. If my purse is empty, my voice carries no weight, no matter how loud I shout. I'm not some fool—I understand that simple principle. Besides, it's just a business partnership; it's not asking for a favor."
Hu Feng smiled, not exposing the truth. It was simply that after Wu Tijing became the law keeper, he wanted the sect to have some semblance of standing—only to find that you really can't do anything without money.
Could a sect only have a few thatched huts?
Hu Feng could cut materials from the mountain and build a proper house with his own hands. But the problem was, if they, two cultivators, lived in thatched huts, wouldn't it be even more ridiculous?
Wu Tijing glanced at the bamboo flute tucked into Hu Feng's belt. "Was that left to you by your grandfather?"
Hu Feng shook his head. "My grandfather got it for me when I was young."
At the Great Li capital, Zhao Yao, Vice Minister of Justice, was hosting a banquet at Sweet Flag River for a few "fellow disciples" from the former Cliff Academy, now renamed Spring Mountain Academy.
At the Great Sui Cliff Academy, a meeting was convened. Besides three headmasters and deputy headmasters, several exemplary scholars and virtuous men attended. Li Huai managed to get a seat among them and felt quite uneasy.
On the banks of the Lin River in the Parasol Leaf Continent, Yu Lu, having resumed his original name, joined forces with his classmate Xie Xie to both establish a new state and restore an old one.
Within the Yan Province territory of Yun Prefecture, a rural village school had appeared. The teacher was an outsider with the surname Chen.
This year, the spring mountain flowers blazed like fire.