Chapter 147: The Old Hand Travels the Jianghu

Under the summer sun, willows swayed in a gentle breeze.

Laughter from young boys and girls echoed occasionally.

What a bright and cheerful scene.

"Young people these days."

Li Rui rode at the front, hearing the laughter beside him, and shook his head slightly.

"So noisy!"

Tan Hu glanced back at the several Qingqing Sect youths and muttered.

Li Rui smiled: "Tan brother, if you were sixteen or seventeen, you'd be the same."

Tan Hu grunted: "When I was sixteen or seventeen, I chopped off the heads of the Northern Plains barbarians and kicked them like balls."

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Li Rui felt he shouldn't have brought that up.

Tan Hu's experiences were vastly different from most youths; these Qingqing Sect boys and girls were almost all from prominent families and were heavenly favorites, their lives far simpler.

"We're almost there."

Li Rui gazed at the official road half-hidden by willows; though he had never been to Qingfeng Mountain Villa, the Anning Guard's arsenal held a map—ordinary people couldn't see it, but the grain officer could.

He treated it like a treasure, studying it daily.

The terrain of the Anning Guard's jurisdiction had long been etched into his mind, Qingfeng Mountain Villa included.

Lost?

Impossible. That was something young people did; old men always carried maps.

Another ten li.

Then they'd enter Anning Prefecture's territory; Qingfeng Mountain Villa lay thirty li east of Anning City, nestled in a valley—of course, the villa was on the mountain.

As one of the top ten sects in Anning Prefecture, Qingfeng Mountain Villa's strength spoke for itself.

Still, compared to Qingqing Sect, it was vastly inferior.

That was the difference between a perfect score and ninety-nine.

Qingfeng Mountain Villa ranked tenth because it could only be tenth; ninth was impossible. Qingqing Sect ranked first because first was the absolute limit.

In pure strength, Qingqing Sect could match any major sect in Yunzhou.

Li Rui's party was heading to Qingfeng Mountain Villa's headquarters, not its branch in Qinghe—just a routine inspection.

In plain terms, it was a business trip.

Everyone understood: it was a government-funded tour. They represented the Anning Guard, even the Annan Garrison; Qingfeng Mountain Villa would naturally treat them well.

Otherwise, if they mentioned a few bad things about Qingfeng Mountain Villa in their report, the villa would suffer.

But Li Rui came to Qingfeng Mountain Villa not just to repay a favor—his real purpose was to avoid disaster.

He glanced at the fading mist.

"As expected!"

The farther they got from Qinghe, the paler the mist became.

Though still faintly red, it was much better than in Qinghe.

After the Ghost Ming Cult's demons died, their mist turned pure white for a time, then gradually reddened again.

That meant the danger didn't target Li Rui personally—but it threatened the entire Anning Guard.

Li Rui always followed the principle: a gentleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall.

That's why he accepted this assignment.

He suspected Jiang Linxian had the same thought.

This place was close to Qingqing Sect—safest of all.

Heard that?

Several Qingqing Sect youths were already discussing returning to Qingqing Sect.

"If we just ask Elder Li, going back won't be a problem."

"Exactly."

"Elder Li is reasonable—he'll surely agree."

They whispered among themselves.

Li Rui's lips curled slightly; their voices were low, but since cultivating Xuanqing Qi, his senses had grown sharper—he heard every word clearly.

He had no reason to refuse.

He wasn't some cruel, malicious superior.

Just two days' leave.

Besides, these Qingqing Sect disciples weren't under his command, nor did they draw his pay—there was no reason to deny them.

At seventy-three, he still had some magnanimity.

They had ridden for about an hour.

As they neared Anning City, traffic on the official road grew thicker.

Tan Hu rode alongside Li Rui and clucked: "Brother Li, the people in this prefectural city are different—they all look down their noses at you."

Indeed.

Some Anning City merchant caravans, seeing they weren't locals, lifted their chins.

Though Tan Hu couldn't figure out why he looked so obviously foreign.

Another caravan passed them—same damn nose-in-the-air attitude.

What kind of man was Tan Hu?

A hardened killer from the northern frontier troops—who had ever endured such disrespect?

He drew his blade without hesitation and bellowed: "Anning Guard on duty! All civilians, clear the way!"

At those words,

the previously defiant crowd instantly became obedient.

Each one shrank away in fear.

Everyone in Anning Prefecture knew the Annan Army had established the Anning Guard; once they heard "Anning Guard," no one dared provoke them.

Many merchant caravans even stopped entirely, waiting for Li Rui's party to pass first.

Tan Hu grinned triumphantly, straightened his back, tugged his reins, and deliberately slowed down.

The official road was built for military movement.

Earlier, they'd worn civilian clothes and gone unnoticed; now that they announced themselves, everyone naturally gave way.

Tan Hu's move was showy but didn't break any rules.

Li Rui smiled faintly and shook his head.

He didn't rebuke Tan Hu for being too flamboyant. Outside, the Anning Guard didn't care about others' glances; they were already a sixth-rank Company Commander—why not raise their voice?

Li Rui even felt he and Tan Hu were far more low-key than county magistrates.

Tan Hu's shout was very effective.

What had taken half an hour to queue through now took only twenty minutes.

The party didn't take the road into the city.

Instead, they turned onto a side path heading east.

Soon,

a series of lush, graceful little mountains rose before Li Rui like ink-wash paintings.

Wooden buildings appeared and vanished, blending seamlessly with the surrounding hills.

"No wonder it's Qingfeng Mountain Villa."

Li Rui silently praised.

"Legend says the first lord of Qingfeng Mountain Villa was a failed scholar who, by chance, received instruction from a master, cultivated an astonishing sword art, and settled in a valley outside Anning City, taking fourteen disciples. Over three hundred years, it grew to what it is today."

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This gave future generations a crucial lesson.

To establish a sect, being powerful alone isn't enough—the key is knowing how to recruit disciples.

Moments later,

they left the official road and stepped onto a path paved with blue stone bricks.

Its cost was even higher than the official road.

Because Qingfeng Mountain Villa had paid to build it themselves—it was a display of prestige, so it couldn't be shoddy.

Just a hundred zhang ahead,

they saw several figures standing at the path's bend.

The clearly leading middle-aged, round man hurried forward upon seeing Li Rui's party: "You must be the Anning Guard officials?"

"Elder He has already informed us; we've come here to welcome you."

They were still five li from Qingfeng Mountain Villa.

Five li to meet them—this was a great show of respect.

Of course, it was the Anning Guard—or rather, the Annan Army's prestige; Li Rui and Tan Hu didn't have that much face.

But to say Li Rui had done nothing in this matter was impossible.

That's why Li Rui hadn't agreed to Jiang Yan's immediate departure, but instead waited three days to prepare.

This cleanup isn't aimed at the soldiers of Runhu Cavalry, but at various matters requiring attention.

The next day, he went to Qingfeng Mountain Villa's outpost in Qinghe and informed He Nian that his party had been ordered to inspect Qingfeng Mountain Villa.

He Nian had already sent disciples back to the villa two days in advance, and everything was arranged clearly.

That was why today's reception was so grand.

Someone might ask.

If Li Rui's party had announced their arrival in advance, how could they possibly uncover anything?

This is the art of dealing with martial sects.

Li Rui is here to inspect, not to destroy Qingfeng Mountain Villa.

Informing He Nian serves two purposes: one, to ensure his party can stay comfortably at Qingfeng Mountain Villa; two, to tell Qingfeng Mountain Villa to hide away their unsavory affairs.

As long as Qingfeng Mountain Villa knows to restrain itself, it shows they still submit to the imperial court—and then everyone benefits.

But if, after being warned, they still refuse to cease their actions, then Li Rui cannot be blamed.

This is the rule.

"Elder Dong, you've worked hard."

The round, plump man's smile faltered; he looked at Li Rui in surprise: "My lord knows me?"

Li Rui smiled faintly:

"Elder Dong's Clear Wind and Bright Moon Sword is famed throughout Anning—I've heard so much of it, my ears are worn out."

When Elder Dong Shen of Qingfeng Mountain Villa heard this old man knew his origins, he grew even more embarrassed.

He didn't even know Li Rui's name, yet Li Rui could name his background precisely.

The superiority was immediately clear.

At their first meeting, Dong Shen already held Li Rui in higher regard.

"May I ask your lordship's name?"

"Anning Guard Company Commander Tan Hu, Patrol Inspector Li Rui."

Li Rui did not introduce himself first, but introduced Tan Hu—who held a half-rank higher—before introducing himself.

Internally.

Within Runhu Cavalry, calling each other brothers is fine, but outside, rank must be observed; otherwise, others will think Runhu Camp is disorganized and look down on them.

"So you're Commander Tan and Commander Li—please come inside!"

Dong Shen didn't know Li Rui or Tan Hu.

But he was very familiar with Anning Guard ranks.

Tan Hu, a full-ranking sixth-rank Company Commander, deferred completely to Li Rui, a seventh-rank officer—clear proof of Li Rui's power.

He dared not underestimate him further.

He politely led Li Rui through Qingfeng Mountain Villa, pointing out the scenery and legends along the way, serving them with utmost care.

The Huaqing Sect members, upon seeing this, were secretly astonished.

Although Qingfeng Mountain Villa was no match for Huaqing Sect, it was still a major, respected sect.

To be treated with such courtesy by a senior elder was beyond protocol.

They knew that if they had come in his place, they would have been treated politely—but never to this degree.

"No wonder he's a seasoned veteran!"

Li Rui chatted warmly with Elder Dong Shen.

Soon they entered Qingfeng Mountain Villa.

Dong Shen finally brought Li Rui and his party to a five-court mansion large enough to house ten families, its surroundings serene and beautiful, with a flowing stream and cool pavilion visible through a round arched gate.

Anning Guard Night Scouts had visited before.

A dozen men had been crammed into a two-court house, four to a room.

Compared to today's treatment, it was worlds apart.

Dong Shen politely said, "My humble abode is plain, nothing like the Annan Garrison barracks—please make do for a few days."

Even Qin Hua and the others from Huaqing Sect, who had seen great luxury, had to admit:

This was no "making do" at all!

(End of Chapter)