Chapter 96: The Innocent, Where the Locust Tree Stands

【Snow River Collapse: Originally a blade spirit, it was tainted by the despair of its master’s death, becoming bloodthirsty and evil upon the battlefield.】

Snowflakes, faint and humble, accumulate in ten thousand layers to cover rivers and streams; in a single night, their collapse sweeps across the world—no army, however vast, can halt it.】

Trait: A chilling aura envelops the body, in constant turmoil—even tempered steel shatters beneath its blade.】

As the current head of the Qingping Officials, Zheng Hui’s mansion was built by imperial decree of the Nanzhao monarch.】

The entire estate spans several hundred mu, divided into three sections: along the central axis lie the main hall and rear chambers, with wing buildings and rear pavilions; on the east and west sides, each has five courtyards in sequence.】

It also includes gardens, lotus ponds, long corridors, stables, woodsheds—everything one could need.】

When Chu Tianshu and his group moved in, they didn’t feel cramped at all—they felt spacious.】

For Chu Tianshu personally, it was like living inside a park.】

Every morning, after rising, he’d leave his small courtyard and wander freely—everywhere were rockeries, brooks, flowering trees.】

“Feudal class really knows how to indulge.”】

Chu Tianshu thought to himself, how much money would he need to build a mansion like this back home?】

No, money wasn’t the most important thing—it was people.】

He didn’t have many relatives; even if he brought all of Second Grandpa and the others to live here, such a vast place would still feel utterly devoid of home.】

He needed to make more friends.】

While strolling earlier, Chu Tianshu had wandered to the side gate and heard about the Nanzhao monarch’s imperial edict.】

He asked the gatekeeper where Zheng Hui usually stayed within the mansion.】

According to the gatekeeper, following this stream would lead him there.】

He was now on his way to find Zheng Hui.】

The stream gradually flowed into a plum grove.】

Deep within the grove stood a pavilion, with stone tables and benches, and a small brazier warming tea.】

Zheng Hui was indeed inside, eating pastries and sipping tea.】

By the hour, this might have been his breakfast.】

“Why, Master Chu, what brings you here?”】

Zheng Hui spotted him and smiled, “Please, sit. At this hour, the kitchen hasn’t yet delivered meals to your rooms.”】

“I happen to have some pastries here—try some.”】

Chu Tianshu didn’t refuse and sat across from him.】

Five dishes sat on the table—not all pastries, but also candied fruits and dried nuts.】

Chu Tianshu’s eyes landed on one dish—something resembling plum kernels. He picked one up and tasted it.】

It truly tasted like plum kernels.】

But the pastries were just rice cakes—too soft and fluffy, Chu Tianshu didn’t like them.】

“Master Zheng, as a high-ranking official with wide connections, do you know where one might find wild soldier spirits?”】

Chu Tianshu glanced at the rice cake he’d bitten into, hesitated briefly, then swallowed it whole and continued speaking.】

“The leader of the Yuwen clan wielded a demonic blade housing a wild soldier spirit when we fought.”】

“If such an example exists, might others have preserved wild soldier spirits as well?”】

Zheng Hui looked surprised. “Indeed, such things have occurred.”】

“Over the past decades, the Tang Army, Tubo, and Nanzhao have clashed repeatedly; many battles have produced wild soldier spirits.”】

“But most wild soldier spirits are fragile—their puppets, once slain, cause the spirit itself to be wounded, and it cannot endure long.”】

“A wild soldier spirit powerful enough to repeatedly switch puppets—if any family obtained one, they would keep it secret.”】

The implication was clear: such spirits certainly existed, but Zheng Hui didn’t know which families possessed them.】

Chu Tianshu felt disappointed.】

In this world, other dark and malevolent things were exceedingly hard to find.】

Wild soldier spirits should have been the easiest—but so far, he’d only acquired one: Snow River Collapse.】

“Master Chu already has his own soldier spirit—why seek demonic blades?”】

Zheng Hui advised, “Your soldier spirit radiates righteousness and grandeur—it has immense potential. Demonic blades are heretical paths; they seem like shortcuts, but they actually crush one’s latent potential.”】

Chu Tianshu lifted his left hand and shook his head. “I practice both martial and esoteric arts. This sword was forged through esoteric methods—it is not a soldier spirit.”】

Zheng Hui exclaimed in surprise, “You—you don’t even have a soldier spirit?!”】

“That’s right.”】

Chu Tianshu said, “Without a wild soldier spirit, I must continue seeking places steeped in deep yin energy to cultivate the Blood Refining Art.”】

“Until now, I’ve trained only at the graveyards outside the city.”】

Zheng Hui fell silent, then suddenly said, “The graveyards’ yin energy is chaotic and impure. But if you seek deep, concentrated, yet concealed yin energy, my mansion has one such place.”】

He lifted the teapot, revealing the small brazier beneath, and poured a cup of tea onto the charcoal.】

Sssssss!】

A strong aroma—mingling burnt charcoal and tea—rose thickly.】

Zheng Hui inhaled deeply, then turned. “Follow me.”】

Chu Tianshu rose and followed.】

After passing through four courtyards, Zheng Hui brought him to a quiet, desolate one.】

The courtyard was paved with blue stone tiles, except for a single patch of soil, about a zhang across, in the northwest corner.】

A sturdy, towering locust tree grew there, tenaciously pushing upward, inch by inch.】

In Nanzhao’s warm climate, this locust tree had shed all its flowers and leaves, leaving only bare branches.】

Yet its bark gleamed with luster, revealing that this barren tree still held immense vitality.】

Chu Tianshu sensed a unique atmosphere.】

This courtyard was like a small prison—everywhere repelling the tree, preventing its roots from sinking deeper, its branches from growing taller.】

Yet it still grew—silent, defiant, forging a rugged strength through resistance.】

“This was my mother’s courtyard before she passed.”】

Zheng Hui stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the great tree.】

“When we were captured and brought to Nanzhao, Mother accidentally found several locust seeds hidden in a tear in her clothing.”】

“We didn’t know if they were from the tree in front of our old home—but they were certainly from our homeland’s locust.”】

“Mother planted them herself. Over decades, they grew into this great tree. Ten years ago, when the monarch moved the capital, I knew Mother cherished this tree—I had it dug up, roots and all, with its soil, and transported here.”】

“But perhaps it couldn’t adapt to the new land—the leaves fell off, and despite Mother watering it daily, no new leaves ever returned.”】

Zheng Hui fell silent.】

Chu Tianshu studied the tree’s texture—from the exposed roots, across the bark, upward to the branches—also saying nothing.】

“I’ve noticed the tree’s yin energy growing heavier. I suspect the ground beneath this mansion may have once been a great tomb.”】

“I wanted to move the tree again, to give Mother a new resting place—but she refused, insisting I not disturb the tree further.”】

Zheng Hui’s voice grew slower, and he sighed deeply.】

“She still waters it daily, speaks to it, sleeps on a wicker chair beneath it.”】

“Under her companionship, the tree’s yin energy became pure, took root here, and even sprouted new branches.”】

“I realized that with this tree, it didn’t harm her health—it actually prolonged her life. I was both astonished and delighted.”】

“But sadly, she never lived to see new leaves or blossoms return—she passed away.”】

Zheng Hui pointed to the tightly shut windows.】

“At her final moments, she asked me to open that window—she gazed through it at the tree, filled with reluctance.”】

Sunset on Chang’an Road, locust blossoms blanket the ground.】

In esoteric arts, locust trees belong to yin—but since the Spring and Autumn period, Guanzi noted that five fertile soils suit locusts.】

By the Tang era, planting locust trees became a custom among countless households.】

Locust is a wood spirit, yin in nature—but in the hearts of Tang people, a locust in the home was not a malevolent spirit—it was the ancestral soul, the link to one’s forebears.】

The roots, tender branches, leaves, flowers, fruits, and resin of the locust are all medicinal; in times of famine, locusts were food that saved lives.】

A breeze stirred through the courtyard, causing the locust branches to sway slightly.】

Chu Tianshu said, “Your mother misses her homeland.”】

“Yes.”】

Zheng Hui said, “The older one grows, the more one clings to the past—but after decades away, even if we returned to our old county, could it still be called our homeland?”】

“We Tang people were transplanted here. To survive, we’ve rooted ourselves in this alien soil, grown new branches.”】

“This place has become our home—our home, dug from the earth, watered, planted, and nurtured together.”】

Zheng Hui gazed at the sealed window.】

“So though my mother longed for her homeland, even after Nanzhao and Tang made peace, she refused to let me send her back.”】

“She clung to her homeland—and to this place.”】

“Where the locust tree stands—that is our home now. We will not uproot it again.”】

Chu Tianshu activated his Spirit Sight, surveying the surroundings.】

The yin energy here was like a quiet, clear spring beneath the earth—the locust tree was its source.】

It was an excellent place—far superior to the graveyards.】

If he cultivated the Blood River Cart here, even without refining the technique, he’d progress faster than at the graveyards.】

“But…”

Chu Tianshu hesitated. “This is your mother’s former home. Are you sure it’s right for me to cultivate Yin Qi here?”

“Isn’t there another place?”

Zheng Hui said, “This is the best place.”

“The shade of the locust tree exists to protect descendants. The blessings of ancestors are meant for those who come after.”

Zheng Hui walked toward the tree and extended his palm.

The morning light and breeze gently carried the tree’s shadow onto his hand.

“Chu Physician, whether you’re from the Inner Guard doesn’t matter much—I can tell you’re definitely Tang Ren. Your accent even sounds like someone from Jianghuai.”

“You cure ailments with a single needle. You could charge a fortune, yet you take only their meager coins, and only give prescriptions to those who can afford to pay more.”

“You and Captain Cheng have few acquaintances in this land, yet both of you are angered by rumors—one masking it with coldness and cruelty, the other with leisure and belligerence.”

Zheng Hui curled his fingers, as if gripping the shadowy branch, then turned back with a smile.

“You are helping the Tang people of this land, striving to spare them suffering—this is fulfilling my mother’s wish.”

“If my mother knew from heaven, she would welcome you with open arms.”

Chu Tianshu paused, gazing into the wind, as if smelling the fragrance of countless locust trees.

(End of Chapter)