Chapter 626: Can the Fate of Great Qi Attain Immortality? (First Chapter)

The fourth floor of Yaoxian Tower.

The layout was simple and elegant, featuring only a table and chairs for tea tasting, plus two chairs facing each other.

The lighting was dim, the flickering candlelight illuminating only a thick, wood-yellow carved table.

No servants moved within the room; only silence reigned.

An old man, eighty or ninety years old, clad in green robes, his face deeply wrinkled, his sparse white eyebrows and eyes glimmering with faint radiance.

The old man reached out and touched the tabletop; it felt cold, then slowly withdrew his withered hand.

It was Su Xiang, the powerful minister who dominated the court.

In this small pavilion, only one window was open; moonlight streamed through the lattice and spilled onto the corner of the table.

Through this window, one could clearly see the gathering of beauties below.

Yet the old man felt listless; he thought of his age, how long he had lost interest in the revelry of the young, and merely squinted at the high-hanging moon.

At this moment!

Su Xiang slowly raised his head, gazing toward the door, then rose to his feet.

A middle-aged man entered the room slowly.

The middle-aged man was tall and slender, wearing a slightly faded Confucian robe, his dark hair loosely draped over his shoulders.

His features were unremarkable, yet somehow, their ordinary combination on his face radiated an ineffable beauty and grace.

It was the Third Master of the Academy.

The old man grinned and said, "Third Master, it's been a long time."

Their ages and appearances were exact opposites.

Su Xiang was younger than the Third Master, yet looked far older.

The Third Master gazed at Su Xiang and shook his head gently. "Wuxin, why do you dress yourself as if you're on the verge of death?"

Su Xiang's courtesy name was Wuxin, but in today's Great Qi, no one dared address him by it.

The Third Master had seated himself beneath the dim lantern light.

"You still love to hide. Back then, you could already recite the texts by heart, yet you always went last. The Master knew, yet never exposed you."

"You learned the Master's Corpse Liberation Technique. Though you cannot achieve immortality, you can remain eternally young. Yet you choose to appear as this withered old man."

Su Xiang smiled faintly and replied:

"I've lingered too long in the courts of Great Qi. If I remained youthful, they'd fear me even more as this 'immortal old man.'"

"I do this for their sake."

With that,

Su Xiang no longer concealed himself; he gently shed his green outer robe, revealing the green inner robe beneath.

He seemed to have returned to youth.

The old man was gone; only a pale, handsome young man remained, his eyes still carrying the weight of age.

The Third Master's gaze stirred, but not from shock at Su Xiang's transformation.

It was because the first time he saw Su Xiang, the man had already looked this way.

Su Xiang looked down at his pale, smooth hands and sighed: "Though my body has returned to youth, my heart is no longer young—it is no longer the time of youthful wanderings."

The Third Master spoke slowly: "Corpse Liberation is a heretical path. Even if it preserves youth, it cannot escape a violent death."

Corpse Liberation Immortal is a Daoist concept emphasizing "perfect harmony of form and spirit."

Practitioners feign death to evade heavenly calamities or worldly disasters, often linked to "crossing the tribulation."

Yet precisely because it requires "feigning death," many Daoist sects regard it as an "inferior art," accusing it of "taking shortcuts," of "incomplete form and spirit," and believe that even after multiple corporeal rebirths, one still cannot escape human calamities.

Su Xiang merely smiled and nodded: "Master has used Corpse Liberation for countless lifetimes, living over fourteen hundred years—is he not still among the living?"

"If you truly seek transcendence, why not dare to fight for it?"

The Third Master's gaze returned to Su Xiang, a flicker of realization in his eyes:

"You've stolen the dragon vein of Great Qi's national fortune…"

He paused, his voice heavy: "That young eunuch in the palace, who entered the ninth rank of martial cultivation barely past his coming-of-age—surely he is your Corpse Liberation body."

Su Xiang nodded slightly, confirming a secret that would shake Bianjing to its core.

For years, this young eunuch, who dominated martial cultivation, had been the backbone of the Zhou imperial clan—and he was none other than Su Xiang's external body.

It was astonishing.

Su Xiang sighed: "Pity. Such a naturally gifted vessel, yet a flawed one—unable to retain primordial yang."

The Third Master sneered: "Why pretend before me? The external body forged by Yin Cultivation must have its roots severed."

"Otherwise, given your nature—you who pursue perfection—you would never have let him appear."

Yin Cultivation of the Body is a form of Corpse Liberation: after death, the corpse is buried in a specific location, nourished by subterranean spiritual energy over time, eventually reviving—akin to "corpse becoming Dao."

This was precisely what Su Xiang had intended to say.

Su Xiang rarely showed such a genuine smile: "Few speak to me this way."

"Third Master, you're still the same."

The Third Master turned his gaze to the window.

The two banks of the governing river glowed with bright lights; the people bustled, lively and thronging.

"You stole Great Qi's national fortune through a Yin Destiny external spirit in the palace, then avoided Corpse Liberation yourself, and conspired with the Nine Surnames to supposedly share the national fortune—yet in truth, you merely gave them your corpse qi."

Su Xiang smiled: "I never expected you'd see through it after just one glance, after hiding it from the Nine Surnames for so long."

The Third Master sighed: "By doing this, aren't you pushing the people of Great Qi into the abyss?"

"When we four joined hands to subdue the Master, wasn't it for the sake of the common folk? Now…"

Before he could finish!

The young man before him withdrew his smile, leaving only eyes as still as a bottomless well.

"I never said it was for the world. You merely assumed it."

"I never viewed this world this way. Heaven is round, earth is square—we are like a fertile field, or a cricket jar, watched from above by unseen beings."

"Just as we watch ant colonies beneath our feet—who cares if we crush one or scald a whole nest?"

"Will the immortals above care about rites, morality, family, country, and the world?"

"We are all mayflies of heaven and earth, born in the morning, dead by night—living only for ourselves."

"I, Su Xiang, merely wish to see what lies above. Some bones buried below were meant to be."

"When I first entered the Master's door, I asked: emperors and generals, great achievements, virtuous scholars and timeless writings, fine carriages and beauties, legendary heroism…"

"I, Su Xiang, asked only one question: can one attain immortality?"

The Third Master remained silent.

Those whose Dao differs do not work together.

Su Xiang said no more.

On the fourth floor, beneath dim lantern light, silence reigned.

The Gathering of Beauties continued.

Each courtesan's opening poem was sent to the fourth floor for Su Xiang and the Third Master to review.

Seven or eight poems already lay before them.

Su Xiang examined them closely and found three written by the same hand.

"Xie Guan… has some talent…"

Su Xiang murmured, then picked up his brush and wrote a poetic theme, instructing a servant to deliver it to Xie Guan and command him to compose on the spot.

The Third Master also glanced sideways, studying Xie Guan's name and his three poems for a moment longer.

At that very moment!

The two commanders of the Divine Concealment Bureau and the Demon Extermination Bureau hurried up the fourth floor and bowed respectfully: "Su Xiang, Third Master."

Su Xiang had resumed his aged appearance; he lifted his eyes slightly: "What is it?"

The two commanders exchanged glances and whispered: "Su Xiang, urgent news to report."

Su Xiang said calmly: "Speak. No outsiders here."

They hesitated slightly, glanced at the Third Master, then bowed respectfully:

"Your Excellency, according to our spies, the Xie family's illegitimate son, Xie Guan, has secretly allied with the Three Truths Sect and maintains close ties with the Three Truths Celestial Master…"

Su Xiang's expression did not change.

"Then arrest him. Investigate the entire Xie family."

"Yes, Su Xiang."

The Third Master, after a moment of thought, said:

"Wait."

Chen Mu's expression was grim.

With Su Shi's words spoken, today's humiliation of Xie Guan by Lady Yuan had likely been undone.

Su Shi instructed the maid behind her: "Yan'er, go inside and fetch the treasure notes for Master Guan."

During the Yan Dynasty, Lu Chen had established silver banks, with the state minting unified notes.

The precursor to paper money was "flying money": merchants deposited funds in institutions in the capital and used vouchers to withdraw cash locally, avoiding the risk of carrying heavy silver taels.

The Third Master further refined the paper currency based on Lu Chen's "Essentials of Governance in Zhenbei."

Under the tutor's advocacy, the Da Qi began widely using paper currency, called "Baochao," which became the primary form of money.

Su Shi had long amassed a vast fortune through her reputation.

The maid had already turned to fetch it.

Prince Chen Feng looked at Su Shi and asked gently, with concern.

"Shishi, have you had any heart ailment lately?"

"I sent you snow lotus from the Northern Changsheng Heaven; the Imperial Medical Bureau has prepared it with Seven Treasures and simmered it over low heat—it's already been delivered to Qimochun Fang. Remember to take it on time."

Su Shi nodded slightly, accepting without refusal. "Thank you, Prince Feng."

Her tone carried a touch of cold detachment.

Su Shi was originally the former princess of a rival state, now the leading courtesan.

She and Prince Chen Feng of Da Qi were as distant as clouds and mud; their two nations were outright enemies.

Su Shi naturally wished to avoid further entanglement with Chen Feng.

Chen Feng, however, was accustomed to this; his years of interaction with Su Shi had always been like this.

He had seen too many women—even the Empress Dowager had selected nine noblewomen from the Nine Surnames as his lawful bride, yet he still had no heir.

All because his heart was fixed on this Su Immortal.

Lin Xi teased beside him: "Second brother, stop wasting your effort. Behind Su Immortal, there are many men utterly enchanted by her."

Chen Feng smiled faintly, unmoved.

Seeing matters settled, Lin Xi prepared to leave; his gaze flickered over Xie Guan, and he smiled:

"Xie Guan, you're utterly unlike your elder brother—your features bear not the slightest resemblance."

Yu Ke, having inherited Xie Guan's memories, naturally understood who Lin Xi meant by "elder brother."

That man was the eldest legitimate son of the Xie Fu's main courtyard—Xie Guan's elder brother, Xie Mu.

Xie Guan inherited his mother's appearance and bore little resemblance to his brothers in the main courtyard.

Lin Xi continued: "Xie Mu loves martial arts and has no interest in poetry or brushwork—he's quite like Xue Hong among your generation."

"Your elder brother will return home after the Qunfang Ban. Be careful—he tolerates no dirt in his eyes."

Yu Ke nodded upon hearing this.

Long ago, "Xie Guan's mother" had fought to secure a family name for Xie Guan at the Xie ancestral hall, stirring up a storm across the city.

At that time, Xie Mu, following closely behind his father Xie Ling, watched as the young Xie Guan timidly called out:

"Big brother!"

Xie Mu merely cast him a cold glance and replied coldly:

"You're not worthy to call me big brother. You're not worthy to bear the Xie surname."

This incident still burned like a carved scar in "Xie Guan's" heart—he had never forgotten it.

By the timeline, after the Qunfang Ban, Xie Ling should have returned to Bianjing.

Yu Ke couldn't help but feel puzzled.

According to the prior agreement between Grandmama Xie of Hongjing Academy and the Nine Surnames, Xie Ling should have returned to Bianjing long ago.

Why had he not returned yet?

Was he waiting for some turn of events at the Qunfang Ban?

Jia Yu and He Xiao were somewhat restrained, with Prince Chen Feng and Prince Yan present.

Chen Ting also turned his gaze toward Xie Guan, silently wondering why the Third Master—who had imprisoned himself in the academy for decades—would defend Xie Guan so fiercely.

He studied the handwriting on the paper, and for a moment, he felt the brushwork bore the spirit of the Second Master—if not…

Xie Guan's talent was indeed impressive.

Xie Guan's origins deeply displeased Lady Yuan in the main courtyard.

The Yuan and Xie families were both among Prince Yan's most steadfast supporters.

To abandon both families over a mere Xie Guan would be unwise.

Chen Yong's eyes revealed a trace of regret, yet he held the "Kunpeng Painting" in the highest esteem, believing it possessed divine qualities.

"Men of the age do not recognize the cloud-touching tree, until it reaches the clouds do they call it tall."

"The roc's wings hang in the sky, mocking the mortal world as empty and dull."

He especially loved these two lines of poetry.

Chen Yong turned to look at Chen Feng and Chen Ting, his gaze filled with quiet thought.

Today, the two elder princes' exclusion of Xie Guan had nearly sealed his official career in Da Qi.

He deeply admired Xie Guan, yet did not wish to offend his two elder brothers.

He harbored great ambition, yet understood the need to conceal his brilliance and refused to reveal himself now.

Li Xiangjun also lowered her head slightly, knowing such matters of great men were not for them to speak of, nor did she wish to draw attention.

Prince Chen Feng and Prince Yan were both seasoned men—they would not be swayed by the women of the West Chamber Pavilion.

She did not wish to overdo it, adding unnecessary flourish.

Soon!

Su Shi's maid returned, clutching a peach-wood gift box tightly.

Su Shi took it and handed it to Xie Guan; inside were banknotes.

A full stack—four million taels.

"Young Master Guan, please count them."

The maid pushed the banknotes toward Xie Guan.

Yu Ke was slightly startled—he had thought the matter settled; Su Shi need not have settled the payment so urgently.

The Qunfang Ban was about to begin, and much silver would still be needed to purchase flower hairpins and other items.

Her coming now to settle the debt plainly showed her sincere intent to befriend him.

"No need to count."

"Thank you, Su Immortal."

Yu Ke did not hesitate—he took the banknotes and pushed them toward Chen Yong.

"Prince Yong, thank you for this."

Chen Yong was taken aback—even he, a man of immense wealth, knew four million taels was no small sum.

Yu Ke hadn't even looked at them before pushing them into his hands.

(End of Chapter)