Chapter 376

Sir, you say why would that monster seek out the Sun Family young master?

Could it be that the Sun Family young master wrote a doggerel on the tombstone, thereby angering her?

But that's not right either; the Sun Family young master clearly wrote a doggerel on the tombstone—what does that have to do with that Yellow Demon?

Could it be that the Yellow Demon has taken over a magpie's nest and is living in the grave?

Sir, what do you think?

On the road to Qi Prefecture, a carriage pulled by four mangy-headed leopard spirit beasts speeds forward.

Inside the carriage, Heng Xian, Han Yu, and Deng Wu sit cross-legged.

Last night, because of the Yellow Demon incident, Han Yu and Deng Wu took great interest in Heng Xian, surrounding him with pleasantries and seeking to befriend him.

Heng Xian originally had no mind to pay attention, but it turned out these two claimed to be students from the Sheji Academy of Qi Capital in the Great Zhou Dynasty, returning from abroad; they happened to encounter the monster aura here, so they came specially to help.

It turns out they are fellow travelers.

Heng Xian was glad to have someone show the way, so he chatted a few words with them and this morning they set off together again.

Seeing the two ask urgently, he casually said: "She might be a monster who has broken free from mainstream melodies and lowbrow tastes, possessing an interesting soul; she does not bind herself to worldly rites, doing whatever she pleases—just look at how she farts at the Sun Family young master, a refreshingly unconventional act, and you can see a glimpse!"

Han Yu and Deng Wu exchanged a glance: "Sir, your words are... profound!"

Deng Wu then asked: "And sir, how did you encounter Steward Xu and give him that talisman?"

Heng Xian lightly replied: "I calculate with my fingers; all things in the world are within my grasp!"

"Really? Can you really calculate with your fingers?" Han Yu blinked.

Heng Xian mysteriously said: "If it can be calculated, I calculate it!"

Han Yu's eyes lit up; she nervously rubbed her hands: "Then sir, calculate for me—what kind of person will my future husband be?"

Heng Xian glanced at her and said: "He will appear when you need him, regard you as his life, cherish and love you, and let you suffer no grievance."

"Really? Really?" Han Yu asked repeatedly, her eyes bright, clearly already believing.

Deng Wu also nervously asked: "First, sir, what do you see for my future achievements? What cultivation level can I reach?"

Heng Xian looked at him and calmly said: "You have a dual spirit root, inclined toward fire; your mind is mature, you are resilient and tenacious, far from the weakness others see. Given time, you will surely become a great talent. In the future you will have three fateful opportunities; if you seize them, Golden Core, Nascent Soul—nothing more to say!"

"I knew it!" Deng Wu clenched his fists fiercely: "I, Deng Wu, am absolutely not as weak as they think; when the wind rises someday, I will soar through the azure heavens; the azure heavens have the Great Dao; becoming an immortal, I will never return!"

Heng Xian hummed, unconsciously reaching for his beard—there was none—so he simply scratched his chin.

In my previous life I set up a stall on the sky bridge, often hearing those wandering mystics mumble; plus, I really do have the Heavenly Hexagram now, so giving true-or-false fortune-telling is no problem.

These two before me have only a passing acquaintance; just tell them what they like to hear—they're merely students.

Students have three virtues: they're immature, full of fantasy, and easy to push over!

Sure enough, the two have already taken Heng Xian as a confidant, their eyes full of admiration.

Han Yu even sighed: "No wonder the academy's instructors often say, reading ten thousand volumes is not like traveling ten thousand miles—this saying is true; to meet you, sir, is our honor!"

Heng Xian couldn't help but startle: "Is this saying universal across worlds?" He subconsciously asked: "What kind of existence is your academy?"

Now it was Han Yu and Deng Wu's turn to be stunned: "First, sir, you don't know the Sheji Academy?"

"Ah..." Heng Xian said calmly: "Of course I've already calculated it; I'm just testing your knowledge!"

"Ah, I see!" Han Yu explained: "In the Great Zhou there is the saying of one office, one supervision, two academies! The office is the Shénwǔ Sī, which oversees imperial city security, monitors officials, apprehends and pursues—imperially sanctioned, to strike first and report later!"

The supervision is the Fèngtiān Jiàn, which manages sacrifices, rites, and the order of cultivators worldwide!

The two academies: first, the Imperial Academy, where imperial kinsfolk, nobles, and meritorious descendants study and cultivate!

Second is our Sheji Academy, where officials from all over, humble scholars, and disciples of Confucianism, Legalism, School of Vertical and Horizontal, storytellers, Yin-Yang, and Military schools study!

This one office, one supervision, two academies are, beneath the Great Zhou imperial clan, the most important places!

"Wrong!" Deng Wu said: "These four places are mainstream; above them are the Holy Virtue Heavenly Empress and the Three Prince Mansions!"

Holy Grace Heavenly Empress is the current Emperor's mother, the Empress Dowager. She, in her old age, when the current Emperor was a child, ruled from behind the curtain for thirty years; all officials and nobles of the world come from her door!

The Three Princes' Mansions are the Qin Prince's Mansion of the Emperor's younger brother, the Chang Gongzhu's Mansion of the Emperor's elder sister, and the Crown Prince's Mansion of the Emperor's son!

The Emperor has been chronically ill; it seems nowadays everything is just what they say, forget it!

"Shut up! You don't want to live?" Han Yu scolded.

Deng Wu hastily covered his mouth.

"It's just idle chat, no problem!"

Heng Xian said lightly.

Inside, he felt somewhat surprised; he had thought the Twelve Peaks of Tianyuan Sect were already complicated enough, but he didn't expect the imperial court to be even more chaotic. Still, after finishing the birthday rites, he should quickly take Ji's younger sister and leave.

"Snort snort snort..."

The carriage continued forward.

Han Yu looked at Heng Xian: "Sir, what kind of talisman is yours? It feels more powerful than the talisman arts taught by our academy's instructors!"

"Exactly!" Deng Wu also said.

Heng Xian said: "Talismans are divided into innate, acquired, Taiyi, yin-yang, Five Elements, and military types; mine is a military talisman, just a common one!"

Talisman arts, spell arts, and various other techniques are the basic skills authentically transmitted by the sect; my own master, Nangong Liluo, knows even more.

Han Yu couldn't help but gasp: "So it's a military talisman..."

Afterwards, the three of them chatted about random things along the way; mainly Han Yu and Deng Wu asked questions, while Heng Xian just made up jokes.

The further they went, the more numerous and prosperous the surrounding towns, cities, and buildings became; passersby and commoners dressed elegantly, each bearing an air of wisdom, starkly different from the folk of the remote outskirts.

Three days later, they passed twenty or thirty great cities far surpassing Donglan City.

"We're almost at Qi Capital!" Han Yu and Deng Wu excitedly opened the carriage window and looked outside.

Heng Xian also glanced outside, not fearing ignorance but fearing comparison; compared to these surrounding city walls and gates, Donglan City looks like a poor village, and we haven't even reached Qi Prefecture yet!

Afterwards, the convoys and pedestrians on the road grew more and more numerous, but the carriage of the few, bearing the pendant of the Sheji Academy, was like having a privilege; ordinary people had to yield, yet the way remained smooth all along.

Half a day later, snow began to fall from the sky again, and ahead a mighty city slowly came into view.

Han Yu pointed ahead: "Great Zhou Imperial City, Qi Capital, we've arrived!"

Heng Xian looked over; even though he considered himself well-informed and experienced, having lived two lives, he was also shaken.

This city's grandeur, magnificence, and vastness are something no film or drama could ever capture.

On the Tiger-crouching Plain Highlands, the city walls alone seemed like a natural barrier; at a glance the end couldn't be seen. Inside the city, towering pavilions, extraordinary architecture, and flourishing towers stood in close succession, endless—even the skyscrapers of a top-tier modern city from my past life were only at this level!

Additionally, there was a heavy solemnity and luxurious extravagance that hit one in the face.

Even a person of high cultivation would feel their mind sway.

Heng Xian suddenly had the thought: I should have some fun here.

"Sir? Sir?"

Han Yu and Deng Wu shouted in surprise.

Heng Xian came to his senses, waved his hand, and said: "I feel an instant kinship with this city; let's go, into the city!"

(End of chapter)