Accompanied by Yue Leng and Li Youjiu, the journey back to Qi was smooth sailing.

Transversing the sky was indeed much more convenient; what took three days to come, now took but one to return.

Of course, for the nations “transversed,” it was likely not such a pleasant experience.

As they neared Qingyang Town, Jiang Wang spoke from the air, “Jiang is truly grateful for the protection of the two Esteemed Sirs. Not far ahead is this subordinate’s fiefdom. Recently, a ‘Zheng Sheng Hall’ was erected, inherited from overseas. It possesses a unique wonder, capturing the essence of true sound. I wonder if the two of you would be interested in a listen?”

Yue Leng and Li Youjiu had been accommodating Jiang Wang’s speed, and to show their closeness, Yue Leng had even discussed the use of the ‘Captive Body Chains’ with Jiang Wang along the way, which greatly benefited him. Their interactions had been harmonious.

Jiang Wang’s invitation was also an expression of amiability.

He was not one for elaborate social maneuvering, but faced with the seniors’ proactive show of goodwill, he wouldn’t act completely oblivious or feign arrogance.

Yue Leng smiled and looked at Li Youjiu, saying, “I am a retired official, with nothing much to do all day. To have a place to sit and pass the time is exactly what I seek. I just wonder if Esteemed Sir Li has the leisure?”

This was him “detaining” the guest for Jiang Wang.

Li Youjiu laughed, “Stealing half a day of leisure from a busy life, why not!”

Jiang Wang, who had been half a body-length behind, now stepped on the Azure Cloud Imprint, accelerated forward, and took the lead.

“Esteemed Sirs, please follow this subordinate.”

Considering his official rank within the Azure Plate system, referring to himself as a subordinate was perfectly acceptable, and at this moment, it further highlighted a sense of closeness.

For Jiang Wang, it was merely a fleeting thought, a desire to build good relations with the two seniors from the Azure Plate system.

But for the Qingyang Town Hall, this was already a task that caused them trepidation.

Qingyang Town was but a mere township. The highest official they had ever seen was their own liege lord, the Duke Jiang, who had received the Fourth-Grade Azure Plate early.

But the two who accompanied their liege lord to the town this time…

What hung from Li Youjiu’s waist was a Third-Grade Azure Plate.

Yue Leng was even more impressive. During his tenure, he had solved countless cases. Through accumulated merit, he was granted an additional grade upon retirement, which, in terms of rank, could be considered Second-Grade.

The Grand Councilors of the Political Affairs Hall, the commanders of the Nine Legions in the Military Affairs Hall, their official ranks were no more than this!

Although Yue Leng’s Second-Grade title was far from comparable to those true Second-Grade high officials, for the vast majority of people in Qingyang Town, the distinction was something they would never fully grasp in a lifetime.

In short, they were terrifyingly important figures.

Dugu Xiao, after this long period of tempering, could already handle matters independently. But limited by his background and vision, he was still inevitably flustered and tongue-tied at times.

Fan Qingqing, after enduring so many storms overseas for so many years, had naturally seen the world. But she hadn’t expected that the Qi Tianjiao she had reluctantly offered her skills to, who was still so young, would already wield such great power in Qi!

The entire welcoming process needs no further description; the Qingyang Town Hall’s performance was inevitably a little provincial.

However, Jiang Wang remained composed throughout, showing no intention of hiding their deficiencies. His demeanor had always stemmed from his own strength and character, and would not be diminished in the slightest by the lack of foundation in his fiefdom.

Only after the three had settled into the newly completed Zheng Sheng Hall did Jiang Wang laugh and say, “This fiefdom has been neglected, causing the two Esteemed Sirs to witness a scene. This is the first time I myself have sat in this Zheng Sheng Hall. I fear there may be shortcomings, please bear with me.”

When he had visited previously, he knew that the Zheng Sheng Hall would be completed within these two days, which is why he had the impromptu idea to invite two important figures from the Azure Plate system to “listen.” Fan Qingqing had indeed not disappointed him and had completed it on time.

However, the “true sound” of this Zheng Sheng Hall, how it truly was, still needed to be heard to be known.

Yue Leng and Li Youjiu were both worldly people and had witnessed many prosperous fiefdoms. They had also seen ones much more humble than Qingyang Town, so they had no complaints.

Instead, Yue Leng offered many words of praise: “This fiefdom of yours has a strong spirit among the people, which shows skillful governance and their hearts are with you. This is a foundation for a thousand-year legacy.”

These words implicitly expressed hope for Jiang Wang’s future achievement of becoming a true master of the current era, of course, they were auspicious words.

Jiang Wang also laughed, “If it is truly to last for a thousand years, it will require much care from Esteemed Sir Yue.”

He would naturally say pleasant words as well. For Yue Leng to possibly care for Qingyang Town for a thousand years, he would inevitably have to achieve the realm of a true master.

Li Youjiu was more practical, offering a sincere comment: “Although your town is not large, it has no shortage of talents, and the people live in peace. It will not be bad in the future.”

A small Qingyang Town, yet its extraordinary power was not weak. Leaving aside the young town mayor and the slovenly cultivator named Zhang Hai, there was also a veteran Inner Mansion cultivator like Fan Qingqing. It could be said to be “rich in talent.”

Most importantly, given their backgrounds, he and Yue Leng were very aware of Jiang Wang’s background. They knew that all of this had been built by him from scratch.

Unlike those scions of aristocratic families, who only needed to focus on cultivation wherever they served. Their families had long since arranged everything, lacking no talent, and even the wealthiest places could be built up.

Jiang Wang merely smiled, “I accept the auspicious words of the Esteemed Sir.”

He had not felt embarrassed by his subordinates’ lack of worldliness earlier, nor was he swelling with pride at the praise from the two important figures within the Azure Plate system now.

Composed as always, he softly addressed Fan Qingqing, “Please test the sound.”

Fan Qingqing had put in immense effort into this Zheng Sheng Hall, constructing it to a higher standard than even the Five Immortal Sect’s former territory.

Firstly, it was to perform well in front of Jiang Wang. Secondly, she was now indeed willing to settle down in the more stable Qi, especially after seeing Jiang Wang’s increasingly long-term prospects.

The Zheng Sheng Hall was built on an unnamed bamboo mountain within the Qingyang town domain. To listen to the true sound, one naturally had to listen to the sounds of nature.

The mountain was lush with green bamboo, rustling whenever the wind passed.

Fan Qingqing had searched throughout the Qingyang town domain before finding this most suitable location. Speaking of which, it was not far from the Hu family’s mine, where many stories had unfolded.

This hall, after its completion, was being “opened for sound” for the first time.

Fan Qingqing was very confident.

With her cultivation and vision, supervising the construction of a Zheng Sheng Hall, she didn’t think there would be any omissions.

She walked to the left side of the hall, formed a seal with her fingers, and then gently pushed open a window—

Have you heard the sound of the wind?

Wind brushing against weeping willows is gentle.

Wind destroying rotten wood is violent.

Wind lightly skimming the water’s surface is a shallow ripple.

Wind tapping on the window outside is longing.

At this moment, that gust of wind joyfully rushed through the bamboo forest. Amidst the embrace of the bamboo leaves, it blew out beautiful whistles.

Squeezing through the dense bamboo leaves, stirring the bamboo branches, gently swaying…

The bamboo sea rippled, just as the wind arrived.

The sound of the wind, the sound of leaves, the sound of bamboo… all were restored to their true nature within the Zheng Sheng Hall.

Inside the Zheng Sheng Hall, everyone remained silent for a long time.

“Truly wonderful.” Yue Leng sighed, “Long in the cage, to return to nature once more!”

As the saying goes, “It is good to cultivate oneself while in the public service.” He had buried himself in paperwork for half his life, accomplished many things, but was also burdened by human relations.

He had retired a few years ago, hoping to achieve a breakthrough in cultivation, but human relations were not so easy to shake off, and he was occasionally invited out of retirement.

Rather than saying that this sound of nature was wonderful. It would be better to say that the true sound of nature had precisely struck a chord with a part of his inner voice.

Li Youjiu said, “With this hall, this mountain is no longer unnamed!”

Compared to Yue Leng, he had more ambition within the public service. If he could squeeze into the Political Affairs Hall, the possibility of achieving the realm of a true master in the current era would be slightly higher. If not, retiring with an additional grade like Yue Leng would also provide more resources, facilitating cultivation after retirement.

Therefore, upon hearing this true sound of wind and bamboo, his first thought was of its value.

Jiang Wang laughed, “It’s better to meet by chance than to invite. Please ask Esteemed Sir Li to bestow a name upon this mountain!”

Having decided to befriend him, Li Youjiu did not hesitate and immediately said, “The sound of silk and bamboo disturbs the ears, but this sound soothes them. The toil of paperwork wearies the body, but this hall calms the mind. This mountain, why not name it with the two characters ‘Fu Ning’?”

“Long in the cage, to return to nature once more.” – Tao Yuanming, “Returning to Garden and Field, Part One”

“Without the disorder of silk and bamboo, without the toil of paperwork.” – Liu Yuxi, “An Epigraph in Praise of My Humble Abode”

There will be more tonight.