Chapter 1039: Say Chén, Drunk, Gazing at the Sword
One table, too many guests, so they had to squeeze together.
Trần Bình An sat between Tiểu Mễ Lạp and Trần Linh Quân. Trần Thanh Lưu and Tân Tế An shared a long bench. Kinh Hào and Bạch Đăng sat together, while the pitiable Ngân Lộc, oblivious to the situation, somehow ended up with a whole bench to himself.
Although Ngân Lộc felt extremely uncomfortable, he couldn't very well force someone to sit beside him. He could only tell that the white-robed youth with the đạo hiệu Táo Quân was a Kiếm Tiên at Ngọc Phác cảnh, full of dragon aura. As for the others, especially Kinh Hào and particularly the two late-arriving guests from Lạc Phách Sơn, Ngân Lộc couldn't discern their depths at all. Not being able to see through someone's cultivation level itself spoke volumes. Ngân Lộc knew very well his own worth.
Seeing Ngân Lộc's awkward situation, Trịnh Đại Phong carried a tray with both hands and pulled the đạo sĩ Tiên Úy to sit down. Ngân Lộc, having some sense, quickly moved to the edge of the bench, letting the gatekeeper with the wooden hairpin and đạo bào sit in the middle. Tiểu Mễ Lạp used her eyes to ask the good Sơn Chủ for permission. Trần Bình An smiled and nodded. The little girl in black stood up and started bustling about. Trịnh Đại Phong pushed the tray towards Tiểu Mễ Lạp, who pulled handfuls of melon seeds from her sleeve and placed them on the tray. Then she opened her cotton satchel and poured two oil-paper-wrapped packages of dried small fish into a porcelain dish. Trịnh Đại Phong then placed the tray in the middle of the table so everyone could reach it easily.
Not to mention Hạo Nhiên Thiên Hạ, across the entire human world, there weren't many who entertained guests like this.
Tiểu Mạch had already persuaded Tạ Cẩu to leave—more accurately, he had dragged the girl in the mink hat away.
Don't ever think Bạch Cảnh only puts on a bluff. If a real fight started, it would really start.
Trần Bình An smiled at Tân Tế An and said, "Mỹ Cần tiên sinh, let's have tea here first, then go up the mountain for drinks later. There'll be more space there."
Tân Tế An picked up his tea bowl and smiled, "It's fine, this is already quite comfortable."
Accustomed to a life of military campaigns, and due to his nature, Tân Tế An never had the airs of immortals like Kinh Hào.
As soon as Kinh Hào heard the title "Mỹ Cần tiên sinh," his hand trembled just as he lifted his bowl, and his heartstrings tightened instantly.
In Hạo Nhiên Thiên Hạ, scholars with the courtesy or style name "Mỹ Cần" numbered not a thousand but certainly several hundred. But who else could be a "Mỹ Cần tiên sinh" traveling with Trần Tiên Quân to visit Lạc Phách Sơn?!
Tân Tế An glanced at Kinh Hào, who had already guessed his identity, and smiled, "On the way here, a friend was discussing with me the matter of the ownership of Thanh Cung Sơn. I don't agree with it. Of course, this is your family's internal affair. As an outsider, I have no place to comment."
Trần Bình An smiled knowingly.
He remembered that a sage at the Văn Miếu had once evaluated Tân Tế An with both praise and criticism.
A commander of commanders, sweeping across the void, yet when he acted with reckless abandon, no one dared utter a single word against him.
In simple terms, when he was leading troops, governing the state, and pacifying the world, others should not chatter or make noise.
Trần Linh Quân's mind wasn't on that elegant young tu sĩ. He was busy making faces at Trần Trọc Lưu—good buddy, let's use tea as wine, cheers, down it goes.
Trần Thanh Lưu raised his wine bowl and drank tea with the momentum of gulping fine liquor. Trần Linh Quân downed his in one go, wiped his mouth, and let out an "ah," exclaiming, "Refreshing!"
Tân Tế An picked up a dried stream fish, chewed slowly, and nodded, "Delicious."
Tiểu Mễ Lạp scratched her face, smiled shyly, and pointed to the other kinds of dried fish on the tray, "Mỹ Cần tiên sinh, there are also Bò Địa Hổ and Hoàng Lạp Đinh, they're all quite tasty."
Tân Tế An squinted and smiled, then indeed reached out and picked up two more dried fish, "Alright, I'll try them all."
Tiểu Mễ Lạp also squinted and smiled.
Trần Bình An smiled and introduced, "Mỹ Cần tiên sinh, she's Chu Mễ Lạp, our Lạc Phách Sơn's Right Hộ Pháp."
Tân Tế An nodded, "I heard from Trọc Lưu. Very good, this is the proper atmosphere a mountain should have. Just my personal opinion."
Earlier, Trần Thanh Lưu had specifically reminded Tân Tế An that his current identity was a poor scholar from Bắc Câu Lư Châu named Trần Trọc Lưu, and when he got to Lạc Phách Sơn, he shouldn't slip up in front of Đạo hữu Cảnh Thanh.
Out of the corner of his eye, Kinh Hào noticed Trần Linh Quân, who kept grinning, and grew increasingly uncertain. Was he completely unaware of the weight of the name "Mỹ Cần"? Was it because he had little education and a big heart? Or did he know and simply not care? After all, this Thanh Y Tiểu Đồng had brought Kinh Hào too many surprises in just these few short days. Any normal person would probably be confused by Trần Linh Quân.
Trần Thanh Lưu smiled warmly, "Cảnh Thanh, do you remember when I told you I had a friend surnamed Tân, and I'd introduce you someday?"
Trần Linh Quân, who had long since taken off his boots and sat cross-legged, looked bewildered, "Huh?"
Damn it, we've drunk so many times together and chatted about all sorts of things, I've long forgotten! I can't just lie and say I remember. Aren't you putting me on the spot?
Trần Thanh Lưu raised his sleeve, brought two fingers together, and pointed at the white bowl on the table, like a secret signal, smiling, "Cup, come forth!"
"If you'd said that earlier, I'd have understood! Remember, of course I remember!"
Trần Linh Quân slapped his knee and burst out laughing, giving the Mỹ Cần tiên sinh a thumbs up, "Brother Tân, you've got skills at the drinking table, that's what I'm talking about!"
If he weren't sitting so far away, he'd have slapped him on the shoulder to show respect.
Tân Tế An smiled, "He was drunk, don't take it seriously."
Trần Linh Quân clutched his belly laughing, raised one hand as if pushing a door, utterly delighted, "Brother Trần also said you're not a good drinker. Once you got drunk by a pine tree, and you kept pushing the pine saying 'go away,' pushing for a long time..."
Tân Tế An chuckled helplessly.
And then the Thanh Y Tiểu Đồng got a slap from his own master.
Trần Linh Quân looked disgruntled and immediately suppressed his smile, "Brother Tân, I'm not mocking you. I just can't control my mouth when I drink. Don't mind it. We're family here, no need for formalities."
Tiểu Mễ Lạp quietly reminded him, "Cảnh Thanh, Cảnh Thanh, you haven't even drunk yet."
Trần Linh Quân imitated his master's sigh, "You wouldn't understand. A wanderer of the martial world, meeting by chance, feeling like old friends at first sight—that's like drinking fine wine."
Tiểu Mễ Lạp didn't want to openly contradict Cảnh Thanh, so she just secretly furrowed her sparse, faintly yellow brows, raised the white bowl with both hands, and lowered her head to drink tea.
Trần Linh Quân knew he'd said something wrong and quickly changed the subject. He turned his head, covered his mouth with his hand, and whispered, "Tiểu Mễ Lạp, later I'll find you ten riddles."
Tiểu Mễ Lạp grinned and quickly lowered her head.
Tân Tế An glanced at the đạo sĩ Tiên Úy, who was just quietly drinking his tea, then looked at Trần Bình An.
Trần Bình An nodded slightly.
Kinh Hào remained silent for a long time. In his lifetime, the old tu sĩ had attended thousands of ceremonies and banquets, but he had truly never encountered such a frivolous "drinking party."
Across the table sat the Dragon Slayer. Bạch Đăng was on high alert to the extreme, still not recovered even now.
Sitting at the same table, drinking tea with a nemesis who "slays dragons wherever there are dragons in the human world"—this was a situation Bạch Đăng wouldn't even dare imagine.
And Ngân Lộc had no idea that the đạo sĩ Tiên Úy sitting beside him, the former deputy city lord of Tiên Trâm Thành, was actually the true master of that city, and the owner of the đạo trâm that had fallen into the mortal world.
After tea, they split into two groups.
Trần Bình An and Tiểu Mễ Lạp were responsible for taking Tân Tế An on a detour up the mountain to the ancestral mountain Tập Linh Phong for a stroll. As for Trần Thanh Lưu, he followed Trần Linh Quân to Tế Sắc Phong nearby for drinks.
A white-haired boy never came to the table. He just squatted by the mountain gate, pulled out a booklet, and started recording the year, month, day, and names.
Walking on the mountain path leading to Tập Linh Phong, where the Tổ Sư Đường was located.
Tân Tế An took the initiative to say, "This time, the Văn Miếu is officially enfeoffing the Ngũ Nhạc Sơn Quân of Bảo Bình Châu. It's not the Á Thánh, not the Văn Thánh, nor the Văn Miếu Giáo Chủ or the Học Cung Tế Tửu presiding over the ceremony. Instead, it's the five disciples of the Chí Thánh Tiên Sư who are handling it. Their current stance is somewhat similar to yours. One of them appeared with me in Man Hoang Thiên Hạ this time. He's a beloved disciple of the Chí Thánh Tiên Sư, whose favoritism is undisguised. As for the one beyond the heavens, I heard from Trần Thanh Lưu that you once followed Lễ Thánh to stop the Man Hoang Thiên Hạ. You may have already met. In the distant past, he was the accountant for those ancient scholars. Besides his deep scholarship, he was also responsible for managing money and earning it."
Trần Bình An suddenly understood and nodded, "We only exchanged glances. At the time, I couldn't recognize that sage's identity."
If he had known the other's identity earlier, to use Trần Linh Quân's drinking-table jargon, he would have had to say a few words no matter what.
Earlier, on the barren lands of Man Hoang, in a place with sparse linh khí, two people had built thatched huts side by side.
Before leaving the đạo trường, the big-bearded man found an iron sword and a tall crown, put on a scholar's robe, straightened his crown, and carried his sword.
Tân Tế An, meanwhile, gathered his three thousand "Phá Trận Tử" poems, took down a long sword from the wall, and together with his friend, headed for the heart of Man Hoang.
Trần Bình An smiled and asked, "Mỹ Cần tiên sinh, after we've had some drinks, could I trouble you for a calligraphy scroll?"
Tân Tế An shook his head, "Sơn Chủ Trần, let's skip the drinks."
When they reached the white jade square outside the Tổ Sư Đường on Tập Linh Phong, with mountains and rivers like a painting, Tân Tế An leaned on the railing and gazed at the magnificent view.
Tiểu Mễ Lạp noticed that the good Sơn Chủ seemed to be waiting for something. When the Mỹ Cần tiên sinh silently moved away, the good Sơn Chủ looked a bit disappointed?
Ah, I see! The good Sơn Chủ wants to compete in poetry?
Heh, Sơn Quân Ngụy said the good Sơn Chủ's doggerel poetry is absolutely top-notch!
They followed the mountain path towards Tế Sắc Phong. Trần Bình An didn't have the heart to take Tân Tế An to his own bamboo tower "study." Chu Liễm came out to help the Sơn Chủ entertain the rare guest.
Wind passed through the courtyard, and the iron bells under the eaves seemed to clang and neigh.
Tân Tế An, who had earlier said he wouldn't drink, after the old cook in his apron brought out several plates of appetizers, put on a stern face and said, "No need for the mountain's immortal brew. The common local liquor will do."
Everyone except Tiểu Mễ Lạp, who was cracking melon seeds, got slightly tipsy. Tân Tế An smiled and asked, "For that calligraphy scroll, will it be old verses dug from the archives, or new verses composed on the spot?"
Trần Bình An felt a bit embarrassed.
It's not like he thought both old and new verses could work.
It was just a matter of taking an extra blank sheet of rice paper.
Tân Tế An, not yet familiar with the temperament of the second shopkeeper of the wine shop, said on his own, "Let's go with old verses then."
Trần Bình An smiled, "Just one sentence will do."
Tân Tế An asked, puzzled, "Which sentence?"
Trần Bình An smiled and looked at Tiểu Mễ Lạp, making a gesture of holding a cup in one hand and twisting his wrist with the other, like a riddle. Tiểu Mễ Lạp thought for a moment, then knew the answer. She immediately raised her hand, "I know, I know! The good Sơn Chủ wants Mỹ Cần tiên sinh to write down one sentence, just six characters!"
Từ trung chi long Tân Tế An.
He had written too many widely loved, exquisite verses—both heroic and graceful.
Tiểu Mễ Lạp cleared her throat, straightened her back, and loudly gave the answer: "Say Chén, Drunk, Gazing at the Sword!"
Tân Tế An was silent for a moment, then smiled, "Then I'll trouble Mr. Chu to stir-fry two more dishes and bring out two more jars of wine."
————
Trần Linh Quân was in high spirits, taking his new and old friends to his own residence for drinks—a rare opportunity.
Before climbing the mountain, he exchanged a few words with Trịnh Đại Phong via tâm thanh, asking him to put in a good word with Sơn Quân Ngụy and request a few jars of immortal wine, the more famous the better. Price didn't matter; he could buy them from the Sơn Quân Phủ. Brother Đại Phong was usually unreliable, but he was very dependable at critical moments. He nodded and agreed, saying he'd personally carry the load over to Elder Trần later, guaranteeing good wine—it had to be the aged mountain brew treasured by the Lễ Chế Ty at Phi Vân Sơn.
If not for the friends present, Trần Linh Quân would have definitely given Brother Đại Phong a leg massage and shoulder rub.
Walking on the mountain path, Trần Linh Quân's sleeves flapped wildly.
Because he'd seen Trần Trọc Lưu, Trần Linh Quân was truly happy. He kept patting Trần Trọc Lưu's sleeve, tsk tsk, these muscles, quite solid. Brother Đại Phong said it well: young lads are full of fire, their butts can bake flatbread!
He just wondered if Brother Trần, who was supposedly from the same family five hundred years ago, had found a wife yet. Probably not. No money in his pocket, no backbone to his words. Relying on a handsome face alone might fool the young ladies down the mountain who liked tales of talented scholars and beautiful maidens, but up on the mountain, that didn't work. Unless... he looked like Thủ Tịch Chu or Kiếm Tiên Mễ? As for the old cook, with his homely looks, being a bachelor was perfectly normal.
Although they were all friends, in the depths of Trần Linh Quân's heart, there was still a clear distinction between close and distant.
Trần Trọc Lưu, Brother Giả, Bạch Mang, the Thủy Thần brother from Ngự Giang, and Lý Nguyên, the Hầu of Tế Độc Long Đình—these were all Trần Linh Quân's top-tier close friends.
As for Elder Kinh and Đạo hữu Bạch Đăng, they had just met, so it remained to be seen how they drank at the table. Outside the table, time reveals the heart. In any case, friends always grow closer through drinking.
Trần Thanh Lưu glanced sideways at Kinh Hào, who was walking on Trần Linh Quân's right, and smiled via tâm thanh, "We meet again."
This Kinh Hào had some brains, knowing to come and pay respects to Trần Linh Quân proactively.
Kinh Hào didn't dare reveal his mountain connection with Trần Tiên Quân at all, so he could only reply via tâm thanh, "This junior didn't expect to encounter Trần Tiên Quân again here. Double the joy."
Trần Thanh Lưu curled his lip. No matter how he looked at this fellow, he found him displeasing, so he started rubbing salt in Kinh Hào's wounds, "It's one thing to back down in front of Tả Hữu. But Trần Bình An is just a small Nguyên Anh at Thập cảnh now. What's he got to be arrogant about in front of you, a Phi Thăng cảnh tu sĩ? And you keep your distance from him. Heh, low realm, big talk. Can you stand it?"
Kinh Hào wanted to speak but hesitated.
He really wanted to say honestly, "Senior, I can."
The one who split Thác Nguyệt Sơn with a sword, a man who carved words on the city wall at just forty.
Even if Trần Bình An had completely lost his tu vi, let alone dropped to Nguyên Anh cảnh, what would a few sarcastic remarks on his turf mean to Kinh Hào?
Trần Thanh Lưu sneered, "It's just two Phi Thăng cảnh kiếm tu of yêu tộc origin by his side. What exactly are you afraid of? You didn't proactively provoke Lạc Phách Sơn. Would they dare cut you down with a sword? Do you really think the Văn Miếu's rules are just for show? What, been holed up on the mountain too long, cultivated a turtle technique—when you can hide your head, you hide it?"
Kinh Hào remained silent.
He was afraid that if he opened his mouth and said even one tough word, Trần Tiên Quân would turn around and sell him out. Then he truly wouldn't leave Lạc Phách Sơn alive today.
Earlier he hadn't dared to believe it. Now that Trần Tiên Quân had revealed the secret in one sentence, Kinh Hào's đạo tâm trembled. Indeed, they were two Phi Thăng cảnh, kiếm tu!
And crucially, they were of Man Hoang yêu tộc origin.
It was a well-known fact in the mountains that the Phi Thăng cảnh great yêu of Man Hoang absolutely could not be viewed the same as Phi Thăng cảnh tu sĩ from the other heavens.
Kinh Hào glanced at the Thanh Y Tiểu Đồng beside him. Thanks to him, Kinh Hào had the chance to come up the mountain.
Unable to participate in the Văn Miếu Trung Thổ deliberations, yet able to come to Lạc Phách Sơn for a drink—if this got out, it could salvage quite a bit of Thanh Cung Sơn's reputation, right?
Trần Linh Quân noticed the expressions on Trần Trọc Lưu and Kinh Hào's faces and asked suspiciously, "What are you two whispering about so secretively?"
Trần Thanh Lưu chuckled, "Just daring to chat casually with Elder Kinh. Just afraid I might say something wrong, accidentally touch a sore spot of the senior, and incur his wrath."
Kinh Hào knew his own suffering but couldn't speak of it.
Only Trần Linh Quân, kept in the dark, was still trying to smooth things over, earnestly advising, "Don't be like that. We're all friends. We haven't even sat down to drink yet, and you're already saying things that hurt feelings? That's not good. Listen to me, hold it in. Once we've drunk, then we can talk openly. At the drinking table, there's no seniority."
At the same time, the Thanh Y Tiểu Đồng reminded Trần Trọc Lưu via tâm thanh, "What's going on? Didn't I tell you about Elder Kinh's background before? With your level of tu vi, don't go speaking bluntly in front of a senior like Kinh Hào. These Phi Thăng cảnh great tu sĩ all have their own tempers. Listen to me, don't be so aggressive."
Trần Thanh Lưu replied via tâm thanh, "I thought that with a great tu sĩ like Kinh Hào as your friend, you'd forgotten about old friends like me who are too embarrassing to even take out for a drink."
Trần Linh Quân couldn't stand this the most. He got a bit annoyed, glared, and said via tâm thanh, "Why can't you tell good from bad? You're full of nonsense! I'll punish myself with three bowls first, you better follow up!"
After a moment's hesitation, Trần Linh Quân still worried that this fellow Trần Trọc Lưu had a bad temper, liked to act the scholar, couldn't control his mouth, and would easily suffer for it.
"Going out into the world alone, how hard it is—I know. You, with your limited skills but your obsession with face—I understand that too!"
"So some sentimental things, like whether you need my help, whether I should arrange a place for you in the Bắc Nhạc territory with a proper registry identity—I won't even bring those up. But as for thần tiên tiền, those are external things. After we parted ways, I've managed to save up some over the years. Take it all. I've already split it into two portions: one for you, the other for Bạch Mang, who's also a good brother. Who else but you two would I have—few friends, no money in my pocket, yet still liking to play the big spender?"
"Don't mind me talking too much, and don't be shy. We're thick as thieves, our bond forged in hardship is right there. So if you run into trouble, take both portions. I'll start saving up again for Bạch Mang's share. I guarantee I won't short him a single Tuyết Hoa Tiền. If the money isn't enough, I'll borrow from others. And I'm not bragging—here at Lạc Phách Sơn, no matter who I ask, borrowing money is a one-sentence matter. No favors owed. Sơn Quân Ngụy of Phi Vân Sơn, the one who likes hosting night banquets—he and I are practically sworn brothers, just short of cutting a chicken's head and burning yellow paper. Think about it: since my money is your money, what's money matter? It's nothing at all."
"Also, I'm just saying 'if'—if you ever encounter something money can't solve, don't hide it from me today. No need. Are you looking down on me? Just say the word, and I'll leave Lạc Phách Sơn with you, even go to Bắc Câu Lư Châu if needed. I've got tons of mountain friends there, all of them reliable. Before, I thought you had too much pride—even poor, you were still a scholar, aloof at heart—and might not like hearing this, so I didn't want to show off these connections that sound so intimidating."
Having said this, Trần Linh Quân gently patted his friend's arm, hesitated, and said softly, "I know that asking someone for a favor, no matter how good the relationship, still stings inside. Maybe precisely because the relationship is better, it's even more uncomfortable. It's fine. Once we get to the table, we brothers will drink well."
Trần Linh Quân thought he wasn't a fool. If Trần Trọc Lưu, with his stubborn poor-man's pride, hadn't truly hit hard times, he would never have traveled across continents to come see him at Lạc Phách Sơn.
Regardless of what others thought, Trần Linh Quân had always believed the hardest thing in the world was asking a friend for help, because it would make the friend feel troubled.
Trần Thanh Lưu smiled and reached out to ruffle the Thanh Y Tiểu Đồng's head.
Trần Linh Quân slapped the hand away, annoyed, "I'm pouring my heart out to you here, almost moved myself to tears, and you're being disrespectful. Looking for a beating, are you?"
"How am I not moved? I'm moved too, brother."
"Ha! Then cry one for your brother. Right now."
Bạch Đăng, who could only silently follow behind them, was shaking in his boots. This Thanh Y Tiểu Đồng really dared to talk! Did he not know how to write the character for 'death'?
Trần Thanh Lưu sensed the flow of tâm thanh, turned his head, and smiled, "Little one, so eager to see your ancestors?"
Bạch Đăng was sweating profusely, speechless.
A dragon's descendant, yet sitting at the same table drinking with a dragon slayer.
He shouldn't have left the mountain. Indeed, he shouldn't have come out on this trip beyond the mountains.
Pushing open the door of the residence, which was never locked, Trần Linh Quân led his friends to seats at the wine table in the main hall. Soon, Trịnh Đại Phong carried over a load of wine, accompanied by a little girl in a pink skirt carrying a pastry box and a bamboo basket of fruit.
Trần Noãn Thụ curtsied to everyone, placed the pastries and fruit on the table, and said, "Immortals, please wait a moment. The appetizers will be brought over shortly."
Trần Linh Quân looked extremely embarrassed.
Trần Noãn Thụ glanced at Trần Linh Quân and said softly, "Treat your guests well."
Trần Linh Quân didn't dare look her in the eye, just nodded vigorously.
On Lạc Phách Sơn, besides the old cook, Trần Noãn Thụ's cooking wasn't bad either. Besides, she had learned a few signature dishes from the old cook.
The nimble Trần Noãn Thụ went to her own residence's kitchen and quickly brought back a large food box with seven or eight kinds of appetizers, all looking, smelling, and tasting excellent.
Leaving the residence, she gently closed the door.
Soon, drinking started inside. The Thanh Y Tiểu Đồng's loud voice shook the heavens—sounded like he was playing finger-guessing games with his friends.
Without even looking, she knew Trần Linh Quân was standing on the bench.
Trịnh Đại Phong was waiting outside and asked with a smile, "Not angry?"
Trần Noãn Thụ gently shook her head and smiled, "He rarely gets to do proper business. Why would I be angry?"
Trịnh Đại Phong started tattling, "I heard that down the mountain, in the town, Trần Linh Quân had several morning drinking sessions."
Trần Noãn Thụ raised an eyebrow, bit her lip, "Can't be bothered with him!"
At the wine table, after punishing himself with three bowls, Trần Linh Quân was indeed standing on the bench, waving his hands, "Brothers, our hearts are connected!"
Trần Thanh Lưu waved along, laughing, "And I'm racking my brains with my brother!"
"I fear my brother suffers, but when he gets beaten, I stand by with my hands in my pockets!"
Hearing these drunken ramblings, Kinh Hào and Bạch Đăng could only stare blankly.
Trần Linh Quân and Trần Thanh Lưu started playing finger-guessing games in the town dialect—"good brothers," "five leaders," "six-six smooth"...
The blue-robed Trần Tiên Quân looked around in confusion, neither sword nor books accomplished, and cast a myriad of affairs into two or three cups.
Three thousand years drifting by, a single sword spanning the sky, flying over the vast Động Đình, past the myriad green mountains of ancient Thục, arriving here—not to slay dragons, but to seek a drunken stupor with a dear friend, to settle the score at the wine table!
————
On the border between Vũ Châu and Hồng Châu, on an official road heading to Dự Chương Quận, three plainly decorated carriages were inconspicuous.
In the middle carriage sat Emperor Tống Hòa and Empress Tống Miễn, both in plain clothes, shoulder to shoulder. She occasionally lifted the curtain to enjoy the scenery along the way.
In the last carriage sat Hình Bộ Thị Lang Triệu Dao, accompanying the imperial entourage, and Lý Bảo Trâm, the first chief of the Chức Tạo Cục of Vũ Châu, who had rushed over halfway, a fourth-rank official.
One was a hot official in the capital, the other a local official on the fringes of officialdom.
Lý Bảo Trâm smiled, "Thanks to you, I get to ride instead of walk."
Triệu Dao smiled, "We should still thank His Majesty's approachability. That's why we don't have to bother with all those tedious formalities."
Lý Bảo Trâm clicked his tongue.
Triệu Dao let it go with a smile. Although their relationship was close, a few official pleasantries were still necessary.
They were genuinely old acquaintances, both from wealthy families on Phúc Lộc Street in Hòe Hoàng Huyện. Not strictly the same generation, but at least they weren't from different generations.
Over the years, Triệu Dao and Lý Bảo Trâm had maintained correspondence.
Lý Bảo Trâm said via tâm thanh, "I heard that at the great court assembly in the capital, led by Viên Chính Định, there's a proposal to move the capital?"
If Đại Ly truly moved its capital to the current secondary capital Lạc Kinh, it would be a real blow—cutting off the fuel from under the pot—for a certain phiên vương currently in Man Hoang.
The first Hồ Quân of Thư Giản Hồ was Hạ Phồn, an anh linh of the Đại Ly court, along with his assistant Ngô Quan Kỳ. The latter had once managed the Đại Ly court's intelligence gathering and organization in the central part of the continent. He was a colleague of Lý Bảo Trâm, who was responsible for intelligence in the southeast, similar in rank and authority. The Đại Ly Tống thị was widely recognized as having three official arenas: the mountain-down dynasty of the capital and local governments, the second arena of various thần linh, and the third arena—institutions like the Nha Đốc tạo Diêu vụ in Long Tuyền Quận, the Chức Tạo Cục in Vũ Châu, and the Thái Phạt Viện in Hồng Châu—whose chief officials were of low rank. But every one of these chiefs was an undisputed eye and ear of the Son of Heaven.
Of course, Lâm Chính Thành of the Thái Phạt Viện was probably the sole exception.
Triệu Dao glanced at Lý Bảo Trâm and smiled without responding.
Lý Bảo Trâm leaned his head back against the carriage wall and pointed at Triệu Dao, "You've always been one to talk in your belly since childhood."
When it came to official fortune, Lý Bảo Trâm, a fourth-rank official, was naturally far inferior to his fellow townsman Triệu Dao, who had been exceptionally promoted to Hình Bộ Thị Lang by His Majesty.
Among the younger generation from the town, setting aside mountain cultivation as thần tiên, the one who had risen highest in officialdom was still Triệu Dao.
But if we're only talking about within Vũ Châu, the highest officials were naturally the Thứ Sử and the Vũ Châu Tướng Quân. Neither of them had authority over the Chức Tạo Cục or Lý Bảo Trâm. But Lý Bảo Trâm and the Chức Tạo Cục could make both the military and civil governors lose sleep.
Because Vũ Châu was a major military stronghold, a place every strategist coveted, the Vũ Châu Tướng Quân Tào Mậu also concurrently managed military affairs in neighboring Hồng Châu.
Tào Mậu didn't have the privilege of riding in a carriage right now. He had to ride ahead with a group of accompanying tu sĩ.
When Lý Bảo Trâm went to take up his post at the Vũ Châu Chức Tạo Cục, he brought two trusted subordinates, both surnamed Chu, a father and daughter.
Right now, Chu Hà and Chu Lộc were riding behind, following the convoy at a distance.
The Empress asked softly, "What about Dư Du?"
Tống Hòa smiled and gently patted the back of her hand, comforting her, "Don't worry. This elder of your family just seems a bit scatterbrained and talks nonsense. Though she's young, she's actually very clever. How else could she have become the behind-the-scenes strategist for the Địa Chi tu sĩ?"
In the lead carriage, a woman and a young girl sat facing each other. The girl kept eyeing the beaded bracelet on the woman's wrist.
The woman, a Grand Empress Dowager of the realm, was dignified and unbothered. She raised her wrist, as fair as a lotus root, and shook the bracelet, asking with a smile, "Do you recognize it?"
The girl shook her head and said something strange, "I must pretend not to recognize it. As if I've never seen it."
Nam Trâm knew this girl's personality well—she seemed carefree and casual, but was actually full of mischief. She continued, "The Dư family's collection doesn't have anything like this. Is it not in our Đại Ly's Ất-character treasury either?"
The Thượng Trụ Quốc Dư thị didn't show off in Đại Ly officialdom. Nominally, they only managed local government-run silk and tea affairs. In their family history, there were neither famous ministers nor famous generals.
But setting aside the top-tier three great surnames of Viên, Tào, and Quan, and ignoring face, only considering substance and inner depth, the Dư thị was actually on par with Triệu thị Thiên Thủy and Án gia Tử Chiếu. Phù Phong Khâu thị and Bà Dương Mã thị were actually inferior to the Dư thị. But these inside stories were truly just inside stories. Few Đại Ly officials dared claim they had a clear grasp of the intricacies and depths.
As for the Đại Ly court's Ất-character treasury, it was a heavily guarded forbidden ground. Even someone of the woman's status couldn't enter, and even asking about it was a violation.
Dư Du's expression was complicated. She shook her head vigorously, "No way. Quốc Sư Thôi warned us all. None of us are allowed to use this item. Otherwise, even the memories of this life would be erased, turning us into idiots. I heard from Viên Hóa Cảnh that earlier, there was a poor fool who didn't listen—an elder of the Địa Chi lineage, a senior of mine. He privately found a pearl, and then Quốc Sư Thôi personally dealt with him. His end was very miserable."
The girl patted her "Tuất" character waist token, "It was originally his thing. I'm just filling the vacancy. If he hadn't knowingly broken the rules, I'd probably still be at home learning embroidery and needlework."
Nam Trâm pretended to hear this for the first time and smiled, "You're a binh gia tu sĩ. Even if you didn't take over this person's Địa Chi position, you would have gone to Chân Vũ Sơn or Miếu Phong Tuyết to cultivate."
Nam Trâm joked, "Our Đại Ly's Quốc Sư position has been vacant for several years now. You don't need to be so nervous. Besides, Quốc Sư Thôi has always thought highly of you all, holding you in special regard."
The girl sighed pitifully, "In officialdom, I understand the principle of 'a new court, new ministers.' But the problem is, Quốc Sư Thôi is gone, and he has a junior brother—the Ẩn Quan—who returned home in glory. Thái Hậu, you don't know, but the Ẩn Quan đại nhân gave us a thorough beating in the capital. He disciplined us one by one, so miserably that it was unbearable to watch. Now we all have psychological trauma!"
Nam Trâm's face instantly turned slightly pale. It wasn't that Dư Du's words were treasonous or violated any official taboo, but rather that the woman got a headache the moment she heard the title "Ẩn Quan."
Seeing the situation was bad, Dư Du immediately shut her mouth.
Nam Trâm unconsciously stroked the bead bracelet on her wrist, her expression shifting unpredictably.
Dư Du knew that Trần Bình An had once entered the imperial palace, but what had happened there, even as a Địa Chi lineage tu sĩ, she had no way of knowing.
Being able to pretend not to know certain things one shouldn't know—that itself was a skill.
Last time, Trần Bình An brought Tiểu Mạch into the palace to meet Đại Ly's Grand Empress Dowager Nam Trâm, to demand that piece of sứ bản mệnh from "Lục Giáng."
At that time, the woman was wearing this mountain-refined bracelet, each bead a priceless "Linh Tê Châu." This kind of treasure bead could let one recall memories of past lives—one bead, one lifetime. A luyện khí sĩ would sit in meditation, follow the đạo quyết, rub the bead, gather a single grain of tâm thần, and then achieve a spiritual connection, crossing the prohibitions of time. The body would be like a colorful phượng hoàng with twin wings, and the tâm thần would flutter through a time-bound picture album recording past lives. Scenes vividly remembered from past lives would make that page of the album colorful, indistinguishable from truth. People and events with faint memories would have that page's colors fade. Blurred memories would show as pale ink strokes, leaving only outlines.
Nam Trâm let out a faint sigh and forced a smile. But the moment she thought this trip out of the capital might very well encounter that arrogant wretch from Nê Bình Hạng who got cocky once he gained power, her expression darkened again.
Almost any sect with deep foundations kept this item on hand, even Bạch Ngọc Kinh was no exception.
The purpose was to find some tông sư who had passed away via binh giải, sparing no effort to search through the vast mortal world for their current reincarnation, then bring them back to the mountain to renew their đạo duyên. If they could recall past-life memories, their con đường tu hành would naturally be twice as effective. Khương Chiếu Ma of Bạch Ngọc Kinh's Tử Khí Lâu and Vu Tâm of Đồng Diệp Tông were both such cases.
So Linh Tê Châu had always been a rare treasure with no market price. Once it appeared, tu sĩ would fight over it, spending fortunes, offering sky-high prices, or simply coming to blows. Hence, no matter who held this mountain treasure, it was always better to have it and not need it—it would never be useless. Because those immortal mansions whose treasuries lacked this item, whether due to fate or funds, when they urgently needed a Linh Tê Châu to help a certain "tổ sư" awaken, they would have to beg the sects that had them. This was the importance of mountain connections.
And Nam Trâm's bracelet had as many as twelve Linh Tê Châu. Besides the few she had used, most of the remaining memory-bearing beads had been drained by the attendant with the đạo hiệu "Mạc Sinh" beside Trần Bình An, using sharp kiếm quang, reduced to... waste.
But Nam Trâm wasn't sure about one thing: two of the Linh Tê Châu, though their treasure light was also dim, seemed to have merely been sealed by some kind of kiếm thuật prohibition by that "Mạc Sinh"?
With one bead, one could recall only a part of the people and events of a past life—those relatively unforgettable, clearly remembered scenes. If one had been a tu sĩ in a past life, the cultivation obstacles encountered and overcome would naturally not be forgotten with the help of the Linh Tê Châu. Thus, this method could be a shortcut up the mountain with no side effects.
The old coachman who had been driving for the Đại Ly Grand Empress Dowager all these years reminded her via tâm thanh, "Be careful of the tâm ma you might face at the Nguyên Anh cảnh bottleneck. If it really is that Trần fellow, don't even think about reaching Ngọc Phác cảnh in this lifetime."
The old coachman's true identity was a viễn cổ thần linh, the chief official of the Lôi Bộ Trảm Khám Ty.
The old man continued, "When the mind arises, all kinds of ma arise. When the mind ceases, all kinds of ma cease."
Nam Trâm's eyes lit up, and she smiled, "Thank you for the reminder, senior."
The old man said, "It's nothing. It's a line from a book of thần ma tales. I saw it and thought it made some sense. It was quite popular in the mortal markets in the early years, and cheap too. Its sales weren't much worse than that travelogue featuring Trần Bằng Án as the protagonist."
Nam Trâm suppressed the urge to curse.
Dư Du put back on her silly, simple-minded expression.
Nam Trâm sensed the heavy atmosphere in the carriage, gathered her complicated thoughts, and asked in a seemingly casual manner, "Dư Du, you all search for suitable treasures from the Ất-character secret treasury. If I remember correctly, those Hình Bộ cung phụng tu sĩ with vô sự bài, based on their military merits, can exchange with the Hình Bộ for equivalent treasures. And the Hình Bộ officials all choose from the Bính-character treasury, where all sorts of heavenly materials and earthly treasures pile up like mountains but are of relatively lower rank?"
Logically, there should definitely be a more hidden "Giáp" character treasury.
Dư Du looked at the Grand Empress Dowager with a meaningful expression.
Nam Trâm knew she had misspoken, "Pretend I didn't ask."
Dư Du grinned, "Grand Empress Dowager, this matter isn't really something that can't be discussed. It's not taboo. Quốc Sư Thôi once told me that if someone ever asked about it directly, I should tell them the answer."
Nam Trâm's face turned deathly pale. Fortunately, the woman's skin was naturally fair, so it wasn't too noticeable.
Dư Du pointed at herself, then at the woman, and gave the answer, "The Giáp-character treasury of the Đại Ly Vương Triều is me, is you, is us, is all the Địa Chi lineage tu sĩ, is the Đại Ly Tống thị imperial clan members that the Grand Empress Dowager belongs to, is all the phả điệp tu sĩ on the mountains, is every single sơn thủy thần linh, and even more so..."
She paused, her gaze resolute, and said solemnly, "It's every yellow register that meticulously records the household registries of the Đại Ly Vương Triều, every ordinary citizen of the Đại Ly Vương Triều. It's every fish-scale register that meticulously records land registries, every inch of the Đại Ly's mountains, rivers, and territory."
Nam Trâm was silent.
Dư Du smiled, let out a soft breath, and began to rest with her eyes closed.
Haha, just imitating Quốc Sư Thôi Sảm's speech was exhausting!
————
At Phi Vân Sơn, in the pine-shaded reading spot, Sơn Quân Ngụy Bách closed that weighty volume, propped his cheek on one hand, and lightly tapped the golden earring on his ear with his thumb, hesitating over the matter of drafting his own thần hiệu.
At one of Lạc Phách Sơn's subordinate peaks, Bái Kiếm Đài, Tiểu Mạch felt a bit more at ease. Tạ Cẩu was whispering with the white-haired boy who served as the biên phổ quan and Quách Trúc Tửu, whom they had elevated to their alliance leader, as if discussing something important. As for the provocation at the mountain gate, Tạ Cẩu had completely put it out of her mind, acting as if nothing had happened. Tiểu Mạch's heart stirred slightly, and he moved away.
In the Đại Ly capital, a young tu sĩ named Tăng Duệ, the young sect master of the Ngũ Đảo phái, planned to follow the instructions in Trần tiên sinh's letter: first, find lodging at an immortal inn where, supposedly, just mentioning his name meant no charge, then go to the alley outside the Nhân Vân Diệc Vân Lâu to find a master-disciple pair named Lưu Già and Triệu Đoan Minh.
At the old cook's residence, after drinking, a staggering Trần Bình An, accompanied only by Tiểu Mạch, quietly left Lạc Phách Sơn and came to the ancestral home on Nê Bình Hạng in the town.