Hèlián Yúnyun stood outside a resplendent tent, feeling the free-flowing wind upon the Guān Hé Platform. Before her knelt a dark shadow, silent as the grave, uttering not a sound.

Lamp shadows danced upon the tent, like clawing, fanged ghouls.

The duel within was officiated by the Gold Crown Priest, Nàmōduō. Yǔwén Duó, Nà Liáng, and the 현세 神使 (Xiànshì Shénshǐ – Mundane World Divine Emissary) Cāngmíng were all inside observing.

And as a Grand牧 (Mù – Herdsman/Shepherd) Imperial Daughter, Hèlián Yúnyun would absolutely not interfere with the outcome.

She had her own boundaries.

For instance, she could give Zhào Rǔchéng the chance to compete in the Yellow River Grand Meet. She could force Jīngē to accept a challenge right before the main tournament. She could even summon Nàmōduō in the dead of night to officiate a duel…

But she would not reveal Jīngē’s strength to Zhào Rǔchéng, nor would she force Jīngē to concede.

She absolutely respected the duel itself, and the outcome of a fair confrontation.

This was the tradition of the grasslands, and the history the Hèlián family had to uphold.

But…

What gave those people the courage to hold absolutely no reverence for the Supreme Royal Court?

Hèlián Yúnyun shifted her gaze back, saying coolly, “Find the one who delivered the gift to Zhào Rǔchéng. Chop them into pieces and feed them to the wolves.”

The kneeling shadow said nothing, melting into the darkness.

Within Qí Street.

Jiāng Wàng was quietly cultivating in his room.

*Thump thump thump…*

A knock sounded at the door.

The instantly activated Shēngwén Xiāntài (聲聞仙態 – Voice Hearing Immortal State) had already told Jiāng Wàng who was at the door.

He was somewhat surprised.

Qiáo Lín was a talkative person, but despite his loquaciousness, he was actually quite disciplined. He shouldn’t disturb him while he was cultivating.

“Come in,” he said.

Qiáo Lín, clad in the standard battle armor of the Tiān Fù Army, walked into the room, his expression peculiar. “Someone asked me to give you something.”

Jiāng Wàng looked over. “What is it?”

Qiáo Lín handed over a slender, elongated brocade box, unable to resist exclaiming, “You’re truly impressive!”

Jiāng Wàng thought he was referring to his strength, and wasn’t modest at all. Taking the brocade box with one hand, he simply said, “One reaps what one sows. If you work hard, you can do it too.”

Qiáo Lín was filled with reverence.

Truly worthy of being a National Heavenly Chosen!

Diligently cultivates, and diligently hooks up with beauties too.

In fact, when he had just encountered that veiled beauty outside, he was already shocked into speechlessness.

Especially since that beauty had specifically named him, asking him to deliver this gift to the Baron of Qingyang Town, Jiāng Wàng of Great Qi.

In his heart, he looked up to Duke Jiāng with the utmost respect.

I didn’t even see you two interact much, yet you’ve already hooked up!

No wonder Duke Jiāng was dismissive of his reminders during the match.

What level of person is Duke Jiāng!

He’s simply a master of the flower patch, a hero in the field of love. If I were to just stare at people like him, how demeaning would that be!

“I will work hard, and definitely take you as my role model!” Qiáo Lín declared with absolute certainty.

Jiāng Wàng gave him a somewhat puzzled look, only feeling that this kid’s flattery skills had declined today. What was with all this exaggerated display?

But Qiáo Lín, filled with reverence, had already left the room invigorated.

Jiāng Wàng shook his head. He casually untied the ribbon, which was tied into a butterfly shape, on the brocade box.

Opening the box, he saw a rolled, light blue paper inside, tied with a cloud-colored thread.

His heart stirred. He gently touched the cloud-colored thread with his finger, and saw the thread disperse into wisps of cloud, drifting away.

Unfolding this light blue paper, rows of clear, serene, and elegant characters appeared on the paper—

“This is a Tóngzì Jiān (同字箋 – Same Character Scroll), effective within a hundred li. The characters projected are based on this scroll, without any fluctuation of Dàoyuán (道元 – Dao Origin), so there is no need to fear being detected.”

A new line began—

“Cloudy Sky Blue Rain.”

Then the characters disappeared one by one.

This light blue paper still appeared smooth and unmarked.

After taking out the Tóngzì Jiān, a pen with a faint, flowing light and a colorless tip still lay in the brocade box.

Jiāng Wàng smiled, took the paper and pen, got up and sat at his desk. He smoothed out the paper and slowly wrote: “Little Jiāng under the maple tree knows. Fellow Daoist Yè, have you not rested yet?”

As the characters on the paper disappeared one by one, he knew that they should have appeared on another Tóngzì Jiān.

This experience was novel and interesting. This kind of object was also a beautiful part of the extraordinary world.

Tóngzì Jiān, Tóngzì Jiān, who knows the heart’s thoughts I wish to convey?

After a short while, new characters appeared on the paper—

“Ān’ān is staying in the Língxiāo Secret Realm to cultivate. My father said that the Yellow River Grand Meet is crowded and has many eyes, so he didn’t bring her. Uncle Ā Chǒu and the big and small kings are accompanying her at home, there won’t be any problems. Also, on the way to the Guān Hé Platform, we encountered Dù Rúhuì. You need to be careful.”

Jiāng Wàng replied: “With Fellow Daoist Yè’s care, I am very at ease about Ān’ān at Língxiāo Pavilion. Regarding the Zhuang country’s team, Pavilion Master Yè has already reminded me. I also saw Lín Zhèngrén earlier. I will deal with it carefully.”

Yè Qīngyǔ wrote: “That person Dù Rúhuì brought, do you know him?”

Although she had not heard the name Lín Zhèngrén, with Jiāng Wàng saying this, she could naturally react. This Lín Zhèngrén was that refined young man who was with Dù Rúhuì.

Jiāng Wàng replied: “He is a very cunning and difficult person to deal with.”

The place where Língxiāo Pavilion rested was a small, exclusive area in the western region.

Yè Língxiāo was wealthy and generous, directly deploying several sets of “Cloud Roaming Houses” made by the Mò family, and they were the most luxurious models, ready for use as soon as they were deployed, filling the space.

As a neutral country, Cloud Country conducted trade throughout the world and maintained good relations with many countries. Of course, due to adhering to the principle of neutrality, they could not go further and reach agreements like alliances.

It was limited to commercial cooperation.

These few days at the Guān Hé Platform were a rare few days where Grand True Person Yè was not潇洒 (xiāosǎ – free and easy/瀟洒). He was truly busy, barely touching the ground.

And at this moment, Yè Qīngyǔ was sitting on a soft and large cloud, leisurely writing a reply.

On the clean, white glazed desk lay the light blue paper. Rows of neat characters flowed slowly on the paper.

Looking at Jiāng Wàng’s evaluation of the young man beside Dù Rúhuì, and then correlating it with this person’s outward appearance of sincerity and refinement.

She couldn’t help but shake her head.

This Lín Zhèngrén is truly a “根正苗紅” (gēnzhèng miáohóng – ideologically sound/of good lineage) Zhuang minister! He is exactly like that Zhuāng Gāoxiàn and Dù Rúhuì.

She thought for a moment and wrote: “I thought he was a solid and honest person, but it seems he is extremely fake. However, the Great Dao is vast and open, the dragon soars in the high heavens, and flies and insects are no longer seen.”

“I will bear in mind Fellow Daoist’s reminder and strive upwards bravely, not to be trapped in the mire. In the future, when I reach the high heavens, I will move mountains and fill them in.”

Yè Qīngyǔ looked at this row of neat characters, and it seemed she saw those clean and serene eyes again.

She wrote: “It is getting late, let’s temporarily put down our pens. Please continue cultivating, and exert yourself more.”

After a while.

A row of characters appeared on the Tóngzì Jiān—

“The Dao path is long, let us encourage each other, Fellow Daoist Yè.”

Yè Qīngyǔ gently rolled up the Tóngzì Jiān and carefully tied it with the cloud thread.

With a smile at the corner of her mouth, she leaned back comfortably, sinking into the cloud…

The Dao path is long, fellow travelers, two or three.

And floating life is like a dream, the long night has light.

(Sometimes, the signature at the end of a letter I write is, “If you see a wild goose, please send a reply.” This is where the title of this chapter comes from.)