[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou":3,"chapter-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-160":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Ink Saint of Great Zhou",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2292123,4481,"Chapter 160: The Envoy","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-160",160,"\u003Cp>Those who lack distant concerns will surely face immediate troubles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This saying truly applies to anyone—even though Lu Fang is thriving in the Zhou Empire, he still has hidden worries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang was not the type to obsess over details, nor did he like to share every matter with others; he was someone who steadily advanced according to well-planned strategies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not to warn Mo Xin, he wouldn’t have said those things just now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mo Xin: “After you enter the palace, try not to communicate with me. Though I believe no one can sense it, better safe than sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang nodded and walked into the grand palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taihe Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang bowed to the Zhou Emperor and nodded in greeting to Minister Wen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he came to the palace not because the Zhou Emperor had issued a verbal edict, but because Minister Wen had sent a voice talisman—he was curious, as this seemed unusually informal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stand easy,” said the Zhou Emperor, glancing at Lu Fang with a smile. “Minister, how was your trial in the Buddha Kingdom? I heard Song Ce went demonic there and ambushed the envoy bound for the Buddha Kingdom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang nodded. “Your Majesty, during the trial in the Buddha Kingdom, Song Ce suddenly went berserk and attacked me. His power had grown immensely. After testing him, I confirmed he had fallen to darkness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At first, it was only a suspicion—not yet certain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But after returning to the Zhou Empire, he suddenly ambushed Li Yu, the Confucian scholar—this made it undeniable that he had fallen to darkness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm,” sighed the Zhou Emperor. “The Song family has always been loyal and honorable, yet their only promising son, Song Ce, has become this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, then abruptly changed the subject to Lu Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today, I spoke with Minister Wen. Regarding the envoy to the Luo Sha Kingdom, Minister Wen mentioned that during your time in the Lesser Upper Realm, you once interacted with Princess Xue Luo Sha of Luo Sha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhou Emperor smiled and nodded. “Luo Sha has always maintained friendly relations with our Zhou Empire, sending an envoy every five years for exchange. Considering status and reputation, Minister Wen believes you are the most suitable candidate for this envoy role. What do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang was stunned—he had not expected the Emperor to summon him for this question; he had assumed it was about the Buddha Kingdom trial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minister Wen smiled. “I hear your elegant prose, ‘The Smiling and Proud Wanderer,’ is finished. This would be a perfect opportunity to travel to Luo Sha, see more of the world—I think it’s beneficial. Both His Majesty and I believe you are the ideal choice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang had been thinking how to refuse—he had no interest and only wanted to focus on writing calligraphy in Shangjing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after hearing Minister Wen’s words and considering further, he nodded. “I am willing to serve as envoy to the Luo Sha Kingdom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then it is settled—you shall be our envoy to Luo Sha. Minister Wen will inform you of the details,” declared the Zhou Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your servant takes his leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your servant takes his leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minister Wen and Lu Fang bowed in succession and exited Taihe Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minister Wen smiled. “Lord Wenguan, thanks to your elegant prose, ‘The Smiling and Proud Wanderer,’ we secured a decisive victory in the Northern and Southern Regions. Just now, before you arrived, His Majesty praised your foresight—your promotion of the Zhou Daily is vital.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang nodded. “It was merely luck. Without Your Majesty’s and Minister Wen’s tacit approval and support, I could have accomplished nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minister Wen shook his head. “Lord Wenguan, you are too modest. In truth, His Majesty has high hopes for your mission to Luo Sha, and I agree—you are the perfect choice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang sensed the subtext: the Zhou Emperor wanted him to go; Minister Wen merely echoed his will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Will Luo Sha be dangerous?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked hesitantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minister Wen paused, then smiled. “There is some danger, yes—but as Zhou’s envoy, both our capital and Luo Sha will ensure your safety. You need not worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The reason His Majesty and I believe you are suitable is because your mission to Luo Sha will better represent the Zhou Empire.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Moreover, your prior connection with Princess Xue Luo Sha makes you even more fitting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood,” said Lu Fang, nodding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minister Wen looked at Lu Fang. “Actually, serving as envoy to Luo Sha is not a bad thing. When I was young, I longed to see the distant frontier lands—but I never had the opportunity to go, let alone the vigor you now possess.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang was surprised. “What connection does Luo Sha have with the Frontier of the Unknown?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minister Wen nodded slightly. “In Jingcheng, there is a teleportation array that leads to Luo Sha’s border. There, you can witness the colors and hazy forms of the Unknown Lands—we call it the Frontier of the Unknown.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The colors and hazy forms of the Unknown Lands?” Lu Fang’s curiosity was piqued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t the Unknown Lands just the Lesser Upper Realm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had entered the Seventh-Rank Lesser Upper Realm, the Buddha Kingdom trial grounds, and even special zones within them—but saw no difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Much less any “colors” or “hazy forms.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minister Wen gazed wistfully. “I’ve only seen it in recorded talismans—it’s breathtakingly beautiful. Seeing it with your own eyes will be even more awe-inspiring.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, then continued. “Lord Wenguan, merely by serving as envoy, you will already show Luo Sha how much the Zhou Empire values them. You need not fear—they will treat you as an honored guest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, I heard from Zixuan that you’re preparing to write a new story?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you want to rest? You’ve written so many elegant proverbs at once—taking a break won’t make anyone question your talent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang smiled lightly. “Earlier today, I met Zixuan. I’ve already given him the first few chapters of the new elegant prose story.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?” Minister Wen stopped, surprised, and looked at Lu Fang with hesitation. “You just said ‘elegant prose story’? So it’s still elegant prose?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Literally, Lu Fang had been clear—but such a thing was so rare that Minister Wen momentarily doubted his own ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is elegant prose free?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is it like cabbage growing in the field?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To write one after another—this is too extravagant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang smiled. “It is elegant prose.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Truly astonishing,” said Minister Wen after a long pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tavern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you hear? Today’s Zhou Daily—Lord Wenguan wrote another elegant prose, ‘Water Margin.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course I read it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I read it too. Everyone’s talking about it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you think of ‘Water Margin’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’ is better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I prefer ‘The Smiling and Proud Wanderer’ and ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’—especially ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms.’ It’s simply brilliant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you all think of ‘Water Margin’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think it’s not great. Though it’s elegant prose, it doesn’t draw you in like the previous ones.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1174,"2026-06-20T03:56:21.568Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","909c345097179511ea1d3f72b94332320be278f3010d98091e78385b9cb7fd3c","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-161","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-159",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]