Chapter 40

Forty: Women in the Yue Lands, Swords in Yunmeng (Seeking follows and votes)

"Ru Shixiong, do you ever feel like I'm brainless?"

"No."

Ouyang Rong shook his head without looking aside, meeting the gaze of his Xiao Shimei opposite him. Well, he didn't care one bit about the future scale of the canteen for his junior nephews.

"Such an obvious 'luring the tiger away from the mountain' tactic, and I still fell for it."

"The most brilliant traps are often the most plain and unadorned."

Xie Lingjiang felt a little melancholy: "Is that so... but I've read so many books, and Father often tells me to use my brain before my hands, but whenever I see the enemy injured and running, I just want to chase, thinking I can catch them quickly."

Ouyang Rong thought for a moment and comforted her: "Normal. I used to be impulsive and tower-dive, thinking I could get the kill with a sliver of health, only to realize later that this is called a life illusion."

"Tower-dive... death spot... what do you mean?" Xie Lingjiang was startled and asked tentatively: "Is Ru Shixiong also a Qi Refiner?"

"Not really... but it's close enough. I understand that impulse you get when the kill you had in your grasp flies away," he sighed.

"Ru Shixiong." Xie Lingjiang's nose felt a bit sore.

"So Xiao Shimei isn't brainless, just a bit big-headed... no... a bit slow. Keep training with Ru Shixiong, and you'll get sharp."

"..." Xie Lingjiang.

"If Ru Shixiong doesn't know how to comfort people, you don't have to." She nodded with a straight face.

Ouyang Rong smiled, picked up the broken half of the bronze beast mask from the table, and examined it: "So, did Xiao Shimei see the appearance of this monster?"

"No, he had paint on his face, playing god and acting like a ghost... he leaped into Butterfly Creek while injured and escaped."

Ouyang Rong saw the apologetic expression on Xie Lingjiang's small face and said softly:

"Looking at it now, it's eight or nine parts likely he was sent by the Liu family, and there might be accomplices waiting to receive him. Xiao Shimei was right not to impulsively rush into the water." Besides, Xiao Shimei probably couldn't outswim him; she's two pounds heavier than the other guy.

Xie Lingjiang remained indignant: "It's mainly because I'm not skilled in sword arts; otherwise, all these illusory demonic arts could be broken with a single sword, striking directly at the source."

Ouyang Rong, who had just wanted to offer a few words of comfort, twitched the corner of his mouth and glanced at the long sword at her waist: "You call this not skilled in sword arts?"

"This is just the tip of the iceberg. This must be Ru Shixiong's first time seeing a Qi Refiner, right?" Xie Lingjiang shook her head: "The path I walk is not known for sword arts. The one that can truly break ten thousand techniques with one sword is another hidden Daoist lineage."

"Xiao Shimei walks the path of the scholar?"

"Mm. Does Ru Shixiong also know about Qi Refiners?"

"I've heard Liulang mention it, but I'm not very clear on it." After a pause, Ouyang Rong asked curiously: "Does this Qi Refiner path have a hierarchy of ranks, and what realm is Xiao Shimei in?"

Although he wanted to go home after controlling the floods and slaying the dragon, it didn't hinder him from being a little gossipy, because he always suspected the Merit Tower in his heart-lake was related to Qi Refiners...

And looking at it now, Qi Refiners like Xiao Shimei were a bit like experts in wuxia novels, just with a different name. They didn't seem to practice external martial arts, but something called "Qi." Even a Xiao Shimei who was two pounds heavier and physically delicate could scale walls and vault over roofs, so it was indeed quite magical.

Moreover, the source of this power system could be traced back to the Pre-Qin Qi Refiners who appeared in fragments in certain ancient books.

But he didn't know where the source of those Pre-Qin Qi Refiners could be traced back to—the era of ancient mythology?

And what were the top existences in the current Qi Refiner community like? Could they really achieve longevity? Did the First Emperor a thousand years ago find the elixir of life... Hmm, presumably not. If Brother Ying were still around, there probably wouldn't be the current Li Qian or Wei Zhou.

"Ru Shixiong, don't pry into matters of the jianghu." A certain Xie noblewoman seemed to still be angry; someone had just wasted her sense of being moved.

Ouyang Rong smiled and peeled an orange, picked off the white strings, and handed it over: "Xiao Shimei, calm your anger."

Xie Lingjiang gave a light hum: "Not eating, it causes internal heat."

The young magistrate thought for a moment and silently pushed the pile of orange peels on the table over, along with the white strings.

These reduce internal heat.

"..."

Xie Lingjiang flicked her sleeve, snatched the peeled orange that Ru Shixiong was about to take back, and glared at him, half-angry and half-amused.

"Eat the peels yourself. Peel two more for me."

Ouyang Rong nodded with a smile, peeled a few more, and handed them over: "Let's talk business."

Xie Lingjiang turned serious:

"Qi Refiners have nine grades.

"But actually... it's six grades.

"Because the final three grades leading to 'mythology' have long been lost.

"It's like the official ranks of the Zhou court; the top first and second grades, such as the Three Preceptors and Three Dukes, are not granted real power but are honorary titles.

"The first, second, and third grades of Qi Refiners are similar. In the current jianghu, both inside and outside the world, no one has been heard to reach this realm in nearly a hundred years.

"However, even though they are lost, the entire jianghu of Qi Refiners still uses the nine-grade system. This is a standard born during the Wei and Jin dynasties along with the Nine-Rank System.

"Among them, the ninth and eighth grades are entry-level Qi Refiners, with blue spiritual energy; the seventh and sixth grades are mid-grade Qi Refiners, with vermilion spiritual energy; the fifth and fourth grades are top-grade Qi Refiners, with purple spiritual energy; and anything above that is the lost Heavenly Human grade. Such existences are called... Divine Land Heavenly Humans in ancient books, rumored to be able to fly through the sky and escape the earth, riding the wind."

Xie Lingjiang sighed.

Ouyang Rong couldn't help but ask: "Spiritual energy has colors? Why haven't I seen yours?"

"One, I haven't reached the realm of external projection yet. Two, Ru Shixiong doesn't know how to observe Qi."

He understood and asked again: "Then what does the nine mythological Daoist lineages mean?"

Xie Lingjiang stuffed an orange segment into her mouth, tapped her vermilion lips with a slender finger, and weighed her words:

"All Qi refining arts in the world today originate from the nine mythological Daoist lineages passed down from the Pre-Qin era.

"Some say the end of all nine lineages leads to mythology; some say the final destination of climbing the nine grades is immortality; others say ascending to the first grade allows one to fly to the Penglai fairyland... but who knows?

"Mythology has long been lost. Longevity and the Penglai fairyland are currently only pursued by that group of crazy alchemists overseas and the most stubborn Daoist Qi Refiners.

"The nine mythological lineages have passed down to today, and the world has changed drastically.

"Either they disappeared into the long river of history like the Mohist lineage, like a whale falling to nourish all things;

"Or they declined during the two great struggles over the millennium like the Legalist and Yin-Yang lineages, falling into the hands of imperial power and hidden noble clans;

"Or they have been passed down for a thousand years like the scholar and Daoist lineages, remaining as towering, prominent sects that stand firm and save the world;

"Or... they retreated outside the world, each with their own mission, each with their own persistence, and each with their own... madness."

Xie Lingjiang sighed softly.

Ouyang Rong was thoughtful and asked again: "Then this scholar lineage with complete inheritance belongs to our Confucian school?"

Xie Lingjiang shook her head: "The scholar lineage is not exclusive to the Confucian school or Confucian families. There are also a few disciples of the Legalist or Strategist schools who walk this path, it's just that the Confucian lineage is the most prominent in the world, standing out from the Hundred Schools of Thought in the Pre-Qin era and becoming the sole focus during the reign of Emperor Wu. But all the Hundred Schools of Thought are scholars."

Ouyang Rong really wanted to ask why he was so good at studying in his past and present lives, yet the academy didn't teach him Qi refining arts—did they not know the gold content of the eighteen top scholars... But seeing how Xiao Shimei didn't even mention this to spare his feelings, he probably understood some of the reasons.

He thought for a moment and nodded: "What rank is Xiao Shimei currently?"

"Scholar lineage, eighth grade, 'Gentleman'." After a pause, she explained: "Also, in the world of martial arts, entry-level Qi Refiners from the Confucian school are collectively called Gentlemen, and mid-grade ones are 'Virtuous Men'..."

"No wonder Junior Sister kept emphasizing that she was a Gentleman before. You really are sincere and didn't lie to Senior Brother..."

Xie Lingjiang shook her head and said softly:

"I thought Ru Shixiong knew a little... and possessing a rank title is a luxury, because they are all experiences summarized by senior Qi Refiners, summarized by the various Qi Refiner forces themselves, which can vaguely point out a path involving 'Qi'."

"Only mythological lineages with complete inheritance can have such treatment, such as the three prominent sects. In the jianghu, those miscellaneous Qi Refiners without stable inheritance just call themselves by their grade directly..."

"Then what was the ninth grade you mentioned before?"

"Scholar." She was calm and composed.

"Then what about the seventh grade?"

Xie Lingjiang couldn't help but glance at Ru Shixiong. She tilted her head slightly, smiling but not smiling: "Why does Ru Shixiong want to know so much?"

Ouyang Rong coughed, pointed at the bronze beast mask broken into two pieces on the table, and nodded:

"Since this monster involves the Liu family, I have to ask just in case, to prepare in advance. Does Xiao Shimei know what lineage this monster is, and what rank?"

Xie Lingjiang hesitated and said truthfully: "It should be the Immortal Alchemist lineage, also eighth grade, but he should have only just entered the eighth grade. And if I remember correctly, this eighth-grade title is... 'Seeker of Immortality'."

After a pause, she earnestly urged:

"The Alchemist lineage is a mythological lineage with a history as long as the scholar lineage, but they are quite... evil and strange. Generally, it's hard to tell good from evil. They like to seek immortality overseas, are skilled in external alchemy, and often sell longevity arts to the powerful of various dynasties. This has been the case since the Qin dynasty, and this is also the source of the conflict between our Confucian Qi Refiners and them."

"Moreover, when the Qin dynasty first unified the world, Confucian scholars and alchemists were both under the First Emperor. Confucian scholars assisted the First Emperor in the Fengshan sacrifices to promote the Kingly Way, while these alchemists were even more excessive than the Legalists who were just in a dispute over the path. They kept inciting the First Emperor to seek longevity, and later even deceived the Emperor, ran away, and framed others, leading to the burning of books and burying of scholars. It was from that time that the grudge was formed... Ru Shixiong, you must be careful of such people, and don't believe in any immortality."

Seeing Ru Shixiong's indifferent expression, Xie Lingjiang nodded with relief, then looked slightly puzzled:

"It's just that these alchemists usually seek immortality in the north overseas, and they have always been quite rare in the south. I don't know where the Liu family or others found this monster, and he even dared to be so close..."

Ouyang Rong asked curiously: "Why are alchemists rarer in the south? Isn't the Lingnan Circuit further south also by the sea? Can't they seek immortality there?"

Xie Lingjiang smiled: "Because this Southern Jianghu, composed of the Jiang Nan Circuit and Lingnan Circuit, has a mortal enemy of the Immortal Alchemists."

Ouyang Rong realized: "Uh, could it be that Daoist lineage that can break ten thousand techniques with one sword?"

Xie Lingjiang pointed her index finger upward: "At the highest point of the Southern Jianghu, there is a top-tier hidden prominent sect, which is the ancestral court of sword arts in the world. This sect is called... Yunmeng Sword Marsh."

"This sect masters one of the original nine mythological lineages, the Yue Maiden lineage. They only accept female cultivators, the conditions are harsh, and they are hidden outside the world, rarely entering it."

"And the Yunmeng female cultivators love killing alchemists the most." Xie Lingjiang smiled.

"Yunmeng Sword Marsh... wait, why does it sound so familiar." Ouyang Rong frowned.

Xie Lingjiang finished the last segment of orange, stood up to leave, and besides a table of orange peels, she left behind one sentence:

"That's right, it's right next door in Yunmeng Marsh. Speaking of which, it was their water that rose and flooded Ru Shixiong's county."

"..." A certain young magistrate.

West of Donglin Temple, a simple but tidy house for a family of three.

Inside a bright room where the windows had been reopened and it was no longer dim.

A tall, thin man with the character "Yue" tattooed on his face was lowering his head to pack his bags.

An old woman with an anxious expression was pulling at him with both hands. The white hair hanging from her temples was trembling in the air, and her words were:

"Don't go down the mountain, Ashan, don't go down the mountain. Let's live a good life in the temple."

Liu Ashan remained wooden and silent, his movements as before, continuing to pack, only occasionally covering his mouth to cough a few times, his body swaying slightly. He was still somewhat weak after being bedridden for a long time.

However, the man's movements were clean and efficient. He left all the remaining money at home, simply pulled out a few changes of clothes and stuffed them into his bag, taking only the essentials down the mountain.

"Ashan, don't go down, Mother begs you..."

Mother Liu held his hand with tears in her eyes, but Liu Ashan, with his back turned, shook his head.

At the room's entrance, the cloth curtain was quietly lifted, revealing a pair of spirited, large eyes. Aqing watched silently as her mother and brother argued inside.

Her brother's illness had mostly recovered, and he had been able to walk out of bed last night. As a result, he had only rested for one night, and early this morning, he got up to pack his things, saying he was going down the mountain to find the Magistrate.

Aqing wanted to speak but stopped. She didn't understand her mother's worries, but she also didn't understand her brother's stubbornness.

However, she knew the Magistrate was a good person. Her brother going to find the Magistrate actually made Aqing quite happy in her heart, and in the future, when she went to find her brother, she would also have the opportunity to see the Magistrate.

It was just that Aqing was a bit worried about her brother's health. Besides... her mother seemed to have never been as sad as she was today. Even when her brother had a terminal illness before, her mother had just been numb and dead-hearted, thinking it was fate...

Liu Ashan shouldered his bag, turned around, and knelt before his old mother who was crying and blocking him. He kowtowed three times, then stood up without a word, walked out the door, touched the head of his well-behaved sister outside, and turned silently to leave the courtyard.

Mother Liu chased from behind, crying out:

"Ashan, the noble person won't care whether we repay the favor or not. We can burn incense and pray for blessings for the rest of our lives, and be beasts of burden in the next life. Don't go down, this favor can't be repaid..."

Liu Ashan didn't stop his pace, didn't look back, his voice hoarse and dull:

"The Young Master told me to find him after I recovered. Mother, go back."

The old woman, supported by Aqing, looked blankly at her child's back, muttering to herself:

"The favor of a noble person is something we poor people can't repay. The small kindnesses a noble person bestows are greater than the sky to us. What do poor people have to repay? Poor people only have one life..."

It was just that besides the ignorant Aqing, no one heard, and no one would listen.

The man's dull voice came from afar again:

"Aqing, take good care of Mother. Brother is leaving."