Chapter 88: Daoist Brother, it has been a long time

"Everything in the Thunder Mansion is governed by rules and regulations. You must sign in at the hour of the Rabbit (5–7 AM) and sign out at the hour of the Rooster (5–7 PM). If you must leave temporarily, you must request leave. Each month is divided into three ten-day periods; you rest for two days after every ten. However, if there is a shortage of manpower for field duties, those on rest may be summoned. If you are on field duty for several months or longer, you will be granted compensatory leave after returning to exchange your command token."

"When on duty, the Mansion's affairs must come first. Only on your rest days should you focus on inhaling and exhaling spiritual energy, gathering thunder pulp, tempering your physical body, and refining magic treasures. Is that clear?"

Cheng Xinzhan bowed and replied, "This disciple understands."

"However, today is already the ninth day of the second lunar month. I am on duty for the first ten-day period, and after tomorrow, I will be on rest. How about this: take this copy of *Essentials of Thunder Mansion Duties* and *Method of the Divine Firmament Thunder Qi Inhalation* back with you to read. These are introductory books explaining the operation of the Origin Mansion and the inhalation of thunder qi. If there is anything you don't understand, make a note of it. Five days from now, come find me at the Yixin Tower on Guanshuang Terrace of Shuji Mountain, and I will answer your questions and teach you the basics of thunder arts. Next month, I will formally take you along for duty and field work. How does that sound?"

Daoist Jianxian took two books from his office and handed them to Cheng Xinzhan.

Cheng Xinzhan accepted them and agreed.

After receiving the books, he asked, "May I ask, Master, do you know Daoist Jianping?"

Upon hearing this, Jianxian said, "Naturally, I know him. Why do you ask?"

"Master, my close friend from the same courtyard at Little Wanshan, He Bingkun, is registered under Daoist Jianping. I went out traveling for a period, and before I left, he had already opened his mansion. He should have become a true disciple of the Nine Heavens Origin Mansion by now."

Jianxian smiled and nodded upon hearing this. "I know who you are talking about. You mean He Jiyuan, right? Jianping is in the Sweet Dew Office of the Penglai Division. They are on the fourth floor; you can go up and find them. Familiarize yourself with the place; I won't take you over there."

Cheng Xinzhan agreed and then took his leave.

The Nine Heavens Origin Mansion was truly vast, so there was a staircase every hundred paces. He left the Evil-Slaying Office and found the nearest staircase to head upward.

The Origin Mansion was a wooden structure—Cheng Xinzhan couldn't tell what kind of wood it was—and copper ornaments were visible everywhere, including on the stairs. The annual rings on the wooden steps were quite beautiful, and the corners were wrapped in purple copper, showcasing the magnificence of the high building everywhere.

He arrived at the fourth floor, which was the territory of the Penglai Division. Each office had a sign hanging on it, and he soon found the Sweet Dew Office.

He waited in front of the Sweet Dew Office, and soon someone from the office came up to ask him what he needed.

Cheng Xinzhan said he was looking for He Jiyuan, whose secular name was He Bingkun.

The person heard this and shouted into the office, "Jiyuan, someone is looking for you!"

A loud voice from inside responded.

Very quickly, Cheng Xinzhan saw that big fellow.

"Yunqi!"

He Bingkun—it was more appropriate to call him He Jiyuan now—spotted Cheng Xinzhan and walked over quickly, picking him up as if he were a child.

"When did you get back!"

Cheng Xinzhan hurriedly hammered his shoulder. This was the Nine Heavens Origin Mansion! What kind of behavior was this!

Once he was put down, he smiled and said, "Just got back, and I came straight to find you."

He Jiyuan was clearly overjoyed. He said to Cheng Xinzhan, "Wait here!"

After saying that, Cheng Xinzhan saw him run back into the office quickly to tell someone something.

He then ran back out and said, "Let's go. I've already requested leave. Let's have a good chat, you brothers. You don't know how many rules I have here!"

Cheng Xinzhan smiled. He already knew, and he would soon have to follow these rules himself.

The two soon left the Origin Mansion and arrived at the beast shed.

He Jiyuan released his thunder sparrow, and Cheng Xinzhan picked up Bai Gou.

"You picked up a dog while you were out?" Cheng Xinzhan smiled and nodded.

"Our Origin Mansion is divided into duty days and rest days. On duty days, I am in the Mansion; on rest days, I am at my own residence. There are eighteen slopes on the southeast side of Shuji Mountain where we all live. I am at the Jiechen Tower on the far east side of Ban Yue Slope. Next time you come to find me, just go there. But we aren't going there now; we are going to Du Juan Valley to find Jihu!"

Cheng Xinzhan agreed; he had the same intention. Daoist Brother Jihu had left on the second day after leading him into the mountain, and now, meeting again, it had actually been two years.

The two, one riding a sparrow and the other riding a cloud, went straight from Shuji Mountain in the Lotus Blessed Land toward Du Juan Valley.

It was early spring, not yet the flowering season for azaleas. The valley was mostly green, and the sea of azaleas, which looked like sunset clouds, had not yet appeared.

The two landed at the entrance of Du Juan Valley and walked inside. Once inside, Cheng Xinzhan discovered that there were not only azaleas here; plum, apricot, and kapok trees were also planted along the sides of the road. They were currently blooming in the biting spring wind, competing in beauty.

Cheng Xinzhan had never been to Du Juan Valley before, but He Jiyuan was clearly very familiar with it and led the way.

Cheng Xinzhan looked at the beautiful scenery behind him. Little Wanshan had many people, Mingzhi Mountain had many bamboos, Shouyin Mountain had many clouds, and Shuji Mountain had many high buildings. Du Juan Valley, however, had many flowers and trees. Walking on the small path with dense vegetation on both sides, for a moment, he felt as if he had returned to the dense forests of the Miao border.

Compared to Shuji Mountain, Bai Gou clearly preferred Du Juan Valley. It seemed to have returned to the Miao border as well, often darting off the path into the woods and suddenly appearing in front of Cheng Xinzhan again.

As they walked, Cheng Xinzhan also discovered that there were not only many flowers and trees here, but also more female Daoists than elsewhere, even more than on Shouyin Mountain.

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The two walked for a while and arrived at a green field. The green field was next to a small lake, and a dozen courtyards were scattered around the lake. He Jiyuan pointed to one of them and said,

"That is Jihu's residence. Let's go over."

When the two walked in, Cheng Xinzhan fell in love with this small courtyard. The courtyard was surrounded by a wooden fence half a person's height. Inside, there was only one small wooden house, and the rest of the land was planted with flowers and plants. There were many types of flowers and plants, and even though it was early spring, they were blooming in colorful abundance. The branches, leaves, and fragrance of the flowers drifted across the fence to the outside of the courtyard.

The fragrance of the flowers seemed to have attracted many birds, and the birds in the courtyard were singing like a symphony. It was truly hard to imagine how pleasant it would be to cultivate in such a courtyard.

Cheng Xinzhan made up his mind that he must ask Daoist Brother Jihu for some flower seeds later.

"Jihu!"

He Jiyuan shouted loudly.

Cheng Xinzhan smiled. Before He Jiyuan opened his mansion, he called him "Xuhuai" every other word, but after opening his mansion, he naturally started calling him "Jihu" again.

"I'm home!"

A gentle voice came from the courtyard.

Cheng Xinzhan waited outside with a smile.

"Creak—"

A man pushed open the courtyard gate with the fragrance of flowers. The man was wearing Daoist robes with his sleeves rolled up, and he was holding a small hoe in his hand, seemingly tending to the flowers and plants. Behind him, the flowers were like a tapestry.

It was truly:

A man like jade on the path, a young master without peer.

He Jiyuan blocked the gate like a door god. Before the man could greet them, he moved aside to reveal Cheng Xinzhan behind him and said,

"Jihu, look who this is?"

Cheng Xinzhan's smile was like a spring breeze, blowing toward the man covered in the fragrance of flowers. He bowed and cupped his hands,

"Daoist Brother, it has been a long time." ===== CHAPTER 89 =====