Autumn Reed Inn, by the old well not far from the gazebo.

A grass-shoe-wearing youth sat there quietly, as if waiting for someone.

Inside his room, the child Li Huai was already sound asleep, the lamp on the table extinguished.

Earlier, the youth had put away the maps depicting mountains and rivers, some of the southern prefectures of Great Li, others of the Great Sui territory, all gifted to him by Ruan Xiu.

After placing these maps back in his backpack, he sat by the table and began to ponder the same question.

He absolutely did not doubt Miss Ruan.

But the youth with the mole between his eyebrows, the magistrate of the yamen, Wu Yuan, had once appeared together in the blacksmith shop.

And these maps, according to Miss Ruan’s casual remark at the time, were generously provided by the magistrate’s yamen.

His group had traveled south all along the way, meeting Yefu outside the pass, the two groups merged, entered the Yellow Court Kingdom, what they saw and heard, strange and bizarre.

Finally, Chen Ping An once again walked to the gazebo, arrived at the well, sat on the wellhead, and waited for someone.

In the Grand Water Manor, clouds of sorrow and misery hung heavy, the hall below stained with pools of fresh blood.

The once lively hall, filled with song and dance, now had few remaining.

The white-robed youth still sat high on the white jade chair, his mind wandering ten thousand miles.

A green-robed man stood in the hall below, using his water-based supernatural powers to dispel the bloodstains and stench from his body. Those young maidens of the Grand Water Manor, whether drowned ghosts from the Cold Food River or living people, had all been taken care of by the green-robed man. *Jun bu mi ze shi chen, shi bu mi ze…* (If the ruler is not discreet, he loses his ministers; if affairs are not kept secret…). This principle, the green-robed man, who had shaken the eighteen rivers of the northern Yellow Court Kingdom with his might, building this small kingdom like an iron bucket, naturally understood deeply.

Among the two confidants, the strategist of the Grand Water Manor, a Confucian scholar in a gown, sat upright, neither drinking nor eating meat, like a lifeless clay Bodhisattva. The plump Intercepting River Toad, with a dejected expression, sat obediently in his seat, as if frightened by the tragedy of today.

Tang Jiang, a dead soldier from Great Li’s Green Bamboo Pavilion, sat in his original seat, chopsticks in one hand and a cup in the other, enjoying the gradually cooling delicacies with relish.

How many years had it been since he had felt so carefree?

If he were to bend his back like this for a few more years, he would truly become accustomed to being a lackey for others. Even if Great Li’s iron cavalry trampled the lands of the Yellow Court Kingdom, he would probably no longer know how to be an upright man, right?

The cultivator who had betrayed the Spirit Rhyme Sect, although not dead, was sweating profusely.

Besides them, there were two other lucky survivors.

They were the two young swordsmen from different backgrounds. The white-robed youth had given them a chance to live. In the hall, there were still two beasts left behind by the Spirit Rhyme Sect cultivators. If the two swordsmen, who had not yet reached the Middle Five Realms, could each kill a beast with their natal flying sword without using other swords, they could become true honored guests of the Grand Water Manor from then on.

The white-robed youth even promised them that they could become sworn brothers with the Water God of the Cold Food River. This honor would undoubtedly help them leap over the dragon gate, becoming sought-after figures of power in the northern Yellow Court Kingdom. Especially the Volant Dragon Sect Qi cultivator, who was previously just one of the beloved disciples of the Sect Leader, would most likely be the internally appointed next Sect Leader from now on, with no one daring to compete.

Both swordsmen were at the peak of the Third Realm. The power of their natal flying swords was still very weak and short-lived. The battle with the two beasts was fraught with danger and could only be considered a narrow victory. Both suffered serious injuries, but fortunately, their natal flying swords were not damaged much.

The white-robed youth was in a daze, and no one dared to disturb him.

But it wasn’t good to be so silent all the time, so the green-robed man had to ask softly, “True Immortal?”

Cui Chan came back to his senses, looked around, and said to the two swordsmen, “Since you have won, it shows that you are qualified to continue walking the Great Dao. Go down and heal your injuries first. The Grand Water Manor will give you the best elixirs and provide all the materials needed for sword refinement. The wild swordsman, you can be a low-ranking enshrinement in the Grand Water Manor in the future. As for the Volant Dragon Sect swordsman, after you go back, tell your greedy and lustful master that the matter of Volant Dragon Sect’s upgrade to a *Gong* (palace, a higher-ranking Taoist temple) will be helped by the officialdom from the prefecture and state levels to the Cold Food River Manor, and also by a few cabinet elders in the court. Just wait at home for good news.”

The two were overjoyed and gratefully took their leave.

Cui Chan turned to Tang Jiang and said, “After you go back, there’s no need to gild the lily. You and the other spies and dead soldiers should continue to lie dormant.”

Tang Jiang quickly rose to accept the order.

Just as he was about to leave, he heard the white-robed youth say in annoyance, “Don’t you know how to casually take away a few bottles of the Grand Water Manor’s Golden Jade Liquor left on the tables?”

Tang Jiang hesitated.

Cui Chan said impatiently, “Just treat it as Great Li owing you. Don’t take it for nothing.”

On Tang Jiang’s unremarkable face, a strange radiance bloomed for no reason. He cupped his fists and turned to leave. After crossing the threshold, with his back to the white-robed youth in the main seat, this man held his fists high, higher than one side of his shoulder, never daring to turn around, his eyes red as he looked into the distance, and said loudly, “This lord, Great Li has never owed Tang Jiang anything! Even if I can only watch my Great Li prosper and its national power flourish from afar, tsk tsk, this feeling is a thousand times better than that Golden Jade Liquor!”

The youth laughed and scolded, “Yo ho, this flattery skill is really a bit consummate. It’s a pity that I don’t buy it. Scram, scram, scram.”

Outside the threshold, the Great Li man, who was no longer young, walked with the wind under his feet in a foreign land, laughing loudly.

Cui Chan looked at the empty hall and said, “My surname is Cui, from the capital of Great Li.”

The fatty, whose true form was an Intercepting River Toad, looked blank.

The green-robed man was slightly stunned.

The Confucian scholar, who was born from yin and ghosts, quickly got up and respectfully bowed, “Greetings, National Preceptor!”

The green-robed man was full of shock and sincerely convinced, “So it is the National Preceptor of Great Li who has personally come to my humble abode.”

The Intercepting River Toad, belatedly realizing what was happening, once again prostrated himself on the ground, only kowtowing, making loud thumping sounds, full of sincerity.

Cui Chan asked, “Does that Magistrate Wei have any hidden background? Is there a possibility that he will become a stumbling block in the future?”

The green-robed man shook his head and said, “That Wei Li is just from a southern cold clan in the Yellow Court Kingdom. He has no major backers in the officialdom, otherwise he wouldn’t be so hypocritical with me in this prefecture, only stubbornly adhering to his bookish aura to flatter the Grand Water Manor.”
Cui Chan, resting his cheek on one hand and tapping the armrest with the other, slowly said, “When the Great Li annexed the northern states, it emphasized an unstoppable momentum, with death to those who refused to surrender. Song Changjing committed countless atrocities, including slaughtering cities and burying ten-thousand-man pits, all to establish dominance. However, the southward advance cannot be so straightforward. Huang Ting Country is the first major obstacle, so it cannot be turned into a riddled mess. After all, all the dynasties and kingdoms north of Guanhai Academy and south of Great Li’s Yefu Pass on Treasure Bottle Continent are watching the situation. More and more officials like Wei Li will appear. The key is whether people like Wei Li occupy more important positions in the government of a country, or more people like that Registrar. Depending on the situation, the Great Li border army’s offensives will vary in intensity and urgency.”

The Confucian scholar below nodded slightly.

Cui Chan suddenly looked at the scholar, “Assess Wei Li for me.”

The scholar smiled, “Wei Li is smart, but not smart enough. If he were truly smart, he wouldn’t have tried to straddle the fence during the previous turmoil, trying to satisfy his conscience while also hoping for a prosperous career. There’s no such thing in the world, at least not within the territory of my Great Water Prefecture.”

He pointed to the trembling traitor from the Lingyun Sect, “This person was slightly coerced and enticed by me…”

Cui Chan interrupted the River God’s scholar, laughing, “Slightly? That’s an understatement. After all, people are different. Not everyone can be like you, Sui Bin, utterly loyal to your former country, with unwavering integrity, and ready to die for righteousness, not only dying yourself but dragging your whole family with you.”

The scholar’s expression remained unchanged as he cupped his fist, “Your Excellency, the State Preceptor, overpraises me.”

Cui Chan waved his hand, signaling the scholar to continue the previous topic.

The scholar elaborated, “As the old nest of the Great Water Prefecture, so many things have happened here over the centuries. For example, we secretly caused the Great Water to breach its banks, causing droughts and floods in certain counties. Not only was that Wei aware of it, but previous Prefects and Governors likely suspected it as well. However, they lacked solid evidence and feared the Water God’s power, so they maintained the peace. Take the archives in the Prefect’s mansion, for example. They’ve been flooded and burned many times. Whatever was written on the documents that were destroyed, our Great Water Prefecture certainly doesn’t want it made public. It’s not that we fear any government encirclement, but it would damage our reputation.”

At this point, the scholar turned to the man in the green robe and smiled, “Our Lord still cherishes his reputation.”

The Hanshi River Water God laughed, “Sui Bin, are you mocking your savior? When your remnant soul was wandering on the river, if I hadn’t gathered your Yin soul and reshaped your body, you would have been reincarnated countless times by now.”

The scholar merely laughed in a gesture of begging for forgiveness, showing no fear of the overwhelming power of a Water God.

Under the white-robed youth’s gaze, the scholar with the dark complexion bent down, picked up a wine cup, and took a sip before continuing, “That Wei Li is ambitious and capable. He climbed to the high position of Prefect on his own and is willing to be patient and hidden. If such a person escapes our control, becomes a Governor, and later enters the capital to become a high-ranking official, especially in the Ministry of Rites, becoming the Huang Ting Emperor’s confidant, and adding the resentment he accumulated in the provinces, wouldn’t he turn his anger and target our Great Water Prefecture? Therefore, I told the Water God that such officials can be used, as long as they still have a… righteous spirit in their hearts, but they must never be given great responsibility.”

The white-robed youth glanced at the Confucian scholar, “Such a ruthless judgment. If you hadn’t become an official and instead cultivated on the mountains, you might have had a chance to reach the Tenth Realm.”

The scholar River God laughed nonchalantly, “Alas, there’s no turning back the clock.”

Cui Chan stood up, shook his sleeves, and a half-burnt incense stick slipped out.

This puzzled the gods, demons, and ghosts in the hall. What was this Great Li State Preceptor, appearing as a youth, up to?

The youth placed the half-burnt incense stick in the air, suspending it in place, and then snapped his fingers.

The incense stick burned, and smoke curled upwards.

The smoke did not dissipate but slowly coalesced into the lithe figure of a young woman.

The River God scholar’s expression changed drastically, and he could no longer maintain his previous calm, “How is that possible?!”

The man in the green robe narrowed his eyes, glancing at his confidant advisor. Although he was surprised by the mystical powers of the young State Preceptor, he was mostly watching the situation with detached ease.

The woman’s figure gradually stabilized, and her face became clearer. Finally, she floated down into the hall. It was the woman enshrined in the Qing Niangniang Temple on Mount Heng, who had once played chess with Lin Shouyi and was later requested by the white-robed youth to receive a stick of incense from Lu Jing.

It should be known that the young State Preceptor was praised by even old man Yang in the town as “proficient in the art of souls.” Therefore, Cui Chan must have “stolen” the woman out using a unique secret technique.

Such an unapproved, licentious shrine deity, especially a female deity of extremely low status and shallow cultivation, would generally be impossible to leave her territory without permission.

The scholar, formerly known as Sui Bin, was suddenly furious, his complexion turning even more livid. He pointed at the woman, his fingers trembling, his refined face becoming extremely twisted, “Shameless wretch! How dare you leave Mount Heng? Have you forgotten your oath? You are truly a wretch, betraying your country, betraying loyalty and filial piety, betraying everything!”

When the young woman saw the scholar, her face was filled with panic and fear, and she timidly said, “Father…”

After uttering that word, the woman was overwhelmed with shame and began to weep, covering her face, pitiful and helpless.

The white-robed youth sat cross-legged in his chair, gloating, “Unexpected, isn’t it?”

He then turned to the man in the green robe and laughed, “I’ve read a book called ‘Shu Kingdom Odds and Ends,’ which contains anecdotes and strange tales. One of them describes the Qing Niangniang Temple on Mount Heng. It tells the story of a former dynasty minister who committed suicide at the ancient cypress tree on Mount Heng, bringing his family with him. His family didn’t want to die with him and fled, except for his youngest daughter, who followed her father and committed suicide with a sword. Her blood splattered on the ancient cypress tree, allowing her soul to reside within, eventually becoming the Qing Niangniang of Mount Heng. It’s a story that is worthy of praise and song!”
The green-robed man picked an empty seat and sat down, laughing, “It’s just rumor. The truth is the opposite of the legend. When Sui Bin decided to stop his escape in that small temple and to show his integrity with his death, his entire family followed this former Minister of a fallen kingdom to commit suicide. Most of the women hanged themselves, while others died by smashing their heads against walls or swallowing gold. Only the youngest daughter refused to die and ran out of the small temple. Sui Bin caught up with her and stabbed her to death under an ancient cypress tree. She became a vengeful spirit, but a trace of her soul remained. After death, she was considered benevolent, often offering subtle protection to common folk, which is how she earned a good reputation in that *Suosui Wen* (瑣碎聞).”

The green-robed man took a sip of wine. “Later, her father became a ghost under my command. Later, on my recommendation, he became the River God of a river near Hengshan. Whether it was Sui Bin’s guilt or something else, the vengeful spirit, whose soul was almost scattered by the *gangfeng* (罡風) and the scorching sun, was able to survive until now with Sui Bin’s secret help to find someone to build a clay statue with gilded body.”

The white-robed youth clicked his tongue in wonder.

River God Sui Bin’s anger intensified, “Worse than beasts! I, Sui Bin, have lived a life of integrity! My Sui family has upheld righteous traditions for three hundred years! How could I possibly have such a vile creature like you!”

The white-robed youth resumed his slouching, cheek-propped pose, watching the desolate scene of the father and daughter turning against each other. He suddenly said, “Sui Bin, that’s enough.”

River God and Scholar Sui Bin, enraged, disregarded the youth’s status as National Preceptor, rebutting, “Is there anything wrong with me, Sui Bin, disciplining my daughter?!”

The youth said calmly, “Because I think it’s enough. How is that as a reason?”

“Sui Bin, be respectful! If you dare say another word, I’ll smash your teeth out!”

Tonight was the first time the green-robed man had proactively pleaded for his subordinate. He stood up again and bowed to the white-robed youth, begging, “I implore the National Preceptor not to lower himself to Sui Bin’s level.”

The white-robed youth jumped off the chair and stretched. “Let’s go, let’s go. If I don’t go back, people will start suspecting things.”

He bypassed the large table, walked down the steps, and, towards the woman who still didn’t dare to raise her head, the youth cupped his hands in his sleeves, grinning, “Don’t listen to your father’s nonsense. A fragile girl your age should be learning the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and, when your heart stirs with affection, you should hide in your boudoir and secretly think about your lover. That’s how it should be. What mountain and river shattered, what nation and family ruined? It’s all because useless men like your father failed. So, it’s Sui Bin who is shameless, even dragging you to be buried with him. What are you ashamed of? It’s your father who should be so ashamed that he hangs himself! Don’t worry, with Lord Water God protecting you in the future, if your father scolds you, you can have Lord Water God slap him in the face.”

Scholar and River God was dumbstruck.

The green-robed man was overwhelmed with headache.

The woman mustered her courage to raise her head, quickly glancing at the scholar’s face, then lowered her head again, sobbing, whispering, “Father, it’s daughter who is unfilial.”

The white-robed youth, enraged, strode over and slapped the woman on the head, laughing and scolding, “You good-for-nothing.”

The green-robed man, seeing that the Great Li National Preceptor was about to leave, quickly followed behind, softly asking, “Will the National Preceptor not be resting here tonight?”

The white-robed youth said, “Too much killing intent here, I’m afraid.”

The green-robed man was caught between laughter and tears.

Reaching the threshold, the white-robed youth first glanced at the speechless father and daughter, then said to the Cold Food River Water God, “You’re much luckier than her, having a less rigid and conventional father.”

The green-robed man became even more deferential. “Has the National Preceptor already met my father?”

The white-robed youth nodded. “The old man even treated us to several meals of seasonal mountain delicacies. To be honest, it’s much better than your big fish and big meat paired with gaudy women.”

The green-robed man laughed. “I wouldn’t dare to compare myself to my father.”

The white-robed youth stopped and patted the Water God’s shoulder. “The losses I suffered on the Two Legs Mountain will be compensated even more when Great Li devours the Yellow Court Kingdom. That white jade chair, it’s somewhat useful to your clan, I’ll give it to you.”

The green-robed man, bowing low, said in a deep voice, “I am willing to die for the National Preceptor!”

The Great Li National Preceptor clearly didn’t take it seriously, telling the green-robed man not to see him off, and left the Grand Water Mansion alone, leaping into the Cold Food River.

In the river water, the white-robed youth could swim nimbly without any visible movements of his hands and feet, his figure elegant, like a white *jiao* dragon that had lived in the territory of the ancient Shu Kingdom since ancient times.

He finally followed the current to the bottom of the well at the old City God ruins. He didn’t immediately go to the Autumn Reed Inn, which was within easy reach, but stopped, standing still for a long time.

The white-robed youth stood in the well with his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky.

Someone suddenly asked from the wellhead, “Why aren’t you coming up?”

The white-robed youth laughed. “I don’t dare.”