Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 638 Fengmingzhou Daoist Brother Speaks of Lofty Ambitions, All Affairs Concluded, Meeting an Old Friend
————Phoenix Cry City

Since Pei Yi's death, Kang Dabao and Qin Sufu have rarely met.

Seeing Qin Sufu standing in front of him suddenly made Headmaster Kang feel somewhat dazed.

After many years, Qin Sufu appeared even more handsome than Kang Dabao remembered. He wore a dark blue brocade robe with dark patterns that accentuated his tall and straight figure, and a jade belt with emerald inlay around his waist, which made his shoulders and back appear broad but not bulky.

Her face was like fine porcelain with glaze, yet without a trace of effeminacy. Her brow bones were slanted as if carved from jade, and the faint lines at the corners of her eyes added a touch of gentle charm to her bright phoenix eyes, making her appear more mature and refined.

What's most striking is his short, dark mustache, trimmed so neatly that each hair exudes refinement. When he speaks, the tip of his mustache trembles slightly, conveying both the composure of middle age and the undeniable handsomeness within him.

Compared to the Qin Daoist of the Kang Sect back then, he possessed an even greater spiritual aura of accomplished cultivation. It was as if time had not aged him, but instead made him even more dazzling.

Even with the full support of the Yue family, Yue Lin's wife's clan in Hancheng, no matter how powerful Yue Lin was, he was still just a Pill Master, and it is said that he is now in his twilight years.

The fact that Qin Sufu was able to advance to the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm in such a short period of cultivation demonstrates just how highly regarded this talented individual is in the Duke's mansion.

"He truly deserves to be chosen by Master Shan as his successor."

Kang Dabao sighed inwardly, then saw Qin Sufu bow in return and speak in a pleasant voice:
"I heard that you had left the pass before, and now I heard from the city gate official that you have arrived in Fengming Prefecture. So I rashly came to the Fei family residence to try my luck, and I didn't expect to actually run into you."

After bowing and paying his respects, Kang Da, the sect leader, accepted Qin Sufu's invitation to visit the military academy under the jurisdiction of the Duke's mansion.

Upon entering the inner hall, Yue Shi, who had previously disapproved of her husband's association with Kang Dabao, now came out to greet them with a smile.

Master Kang is of noble character and never wastes time talking to beautiful women, nor does he hold grudges.

He simply drank the hot wine offered by Yue and thanked her in a low voice.

Madam Yue was quite sensible; knowing that the two had important matters to discuss, she found an excuse to personally cook a spiritual meal and retreated behind the screen.

Now that only the two of them remained, Qin Sufu lost his composure and was somewhat at a loss for words. He simply refilled the cup for Headmaster Kang, then poured himself a large toast before speaking in a low voice:
"I haven't seen you for many years, but you've accomplished so much."

“I haven’t done anything of great importance,” Kang Dabao shook his head modestly for a while. “It’s just small-scale stuff within my own territory. How can it compare to the great things that have benefited future generations that the gentlemen of the Duke’s Mansion have done?”

"A deed for posterity? Ha," Qin Sufu scoffed. "Even without the Duke's presence here, you, my brother, are already a prominent figure in the Duke's mansion, holding the title of Marquis of Wuning Prefecture and possessing illustrious military achievements. Do you really need to be so cautious in front of your foolish brother?"

“What you say is very true, Brother Dao,” Headmaster Kang said with a faint smile, without making any other reaction.

Seeing his reaction, Qin Sufu stopped trying to persuade him and raised his glass in a toast again:
"Last time, I went to inspect the local militia in twelve prefectures under the jurisdiction of Chongmingzong on official business. Before I even saw the military formation, I was amazed by the peacefulness of the area."

He observed that Master Kang remained calm and composed, yet he did not urge him on. Instead, he spoke, a hint of reminiscence in his eyes:
"The immortal spirit is flourishing in every county and township, and the land is abundant and the people are prosperous. The local militia regularly patrol the four directions to eliminate evil spirits; all six departments in the county are working hard and there is no delay."

Advanced medical practitioners can enter the homes of poor families; cultivators with mechanical puppets can help ordinary people cultivate their fields. Farming masters are willing to teach ordinary farmers good seeds, identify the soil and choose the right time to personally visit the fields; immortal masters select seedlings without neglecting barren mountains and remote villages, visiting homes day and night.
All of this reminds me of the prosperous era described in books. The Qin State Duke's mansion governs over a hundred military prefectures and counties across four circuits; excluding those under Emperor Chongming's rule, it's not clear what that means.

Kang Dabao, however, was unaware of why Qin Sufu had suddenly brought up these matters, so he simply chuckled, raised his cup, and said with a smile, "These are nothing but trivial skills that are not worthy of being presented in public. Brother, you flatter me."

“This is no small skill,” Qin Sufu said, waving his hand. “Brother, do you know what the situation is like in the other prefectures of Shannan Circuit right now?”

"I have heard of that," Headmaster Kang said solemnly, then recited a nursery rhyme he had recently come across: "The grass grows lush on the road south of the mountain, a child cries of hunger around the house. Demonic fog blankets the village, the crops are all dead, where can Father find chaff?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Kang Dabao realized that he had spoken out of turn, and then added, "The Earl of Feng'en has just entered Shannan to take charge of various matters, and perhaps things are not yet in order. Since he is the capable official chosen by the Duke, he will surely make some achievements."

"Do you believe that?" Qin Sufu sneered, then said, "According to the secret investigations conducted by the soldiers of the Demon-Catching Division, the population of various prefectures and counties in Shannan Road has increased by more than double in recent years compared to when Zhaixinglou was in charge."

As for how those evil cultivators and demonic beasts wreak havoc, and how brutal the sects and families are, you, as the governor of Huangpi Dao, are also responsible for investigating the affairs of Shannan Dao. Do you really not know?!

"Of course I know that," Headmaster Kang replied helplessly, "but..."

"But despite your repeated attempts to send messages, the Duke's mansion has remained silent, as if the message has sunk without a trace." Qin Sufu suddenly raised his voice, clearly furious.

"The prices of people in the southern prefectures have skyrocketed, but the taxes paid to the government each year are higher than the other three prefectures. It would be strange if the officials of the government wanted to interfere."

Kang Dabao's helpless expression was genuine; he had been reprimanded countless times by the officials under his jurisdiction for this matter of handing over the grain tax.

It was only because he had too many Golden Core lives at hand, the favors bestowed upon him by Emperor Wei and Duke Qin were substantial, and Huangpi Dao was indeed quite poor, that he was able to cope.

But while Kuang Liuting was focused on seclusion to cultivate his inner energy, no one in the Duke of Qin's mansion really took his assignment to "investigate the affairs of Shannan Road" seriously.

Times have changed. Emperor Chongming can now take small steps to reform corrupt practices in this remote and humble place of Huangpi Road.

After all, Zhaixinglou and Yuejianshan, which once established their presence here, have now moved and suffered defeats, and for the time being, they have no spare strength to confront Chongmingzong.

However, neither the Duke of Qin's mansion nor Kuang Liuting himself could afford to interfere with the affairs that Kang Dabao was in charge of.

David's clan had finally won back some hearts after winning a brilliant battle in the southwest, and they couldn't let Kuang Liuting's will lead them to push these Nascent Soul cultivators out again.

After all, if Kuang Liuting truly wanted to ascend to the throne, he would naturally want the support of powerful sects and aristocratic families. How could he possibly gain the recommendation of these families? In that case, he could only become a benevolent ruler.

As for what constitutes a benevolent ruler?

The virtues of valuing the wise and cherishing one's relatives are called benevolence; the ability to yield the country to others is called benevolence; and practicing benevolence and serving others with virtue are called benevolence.
Who is the "virtuous" in "valuing the virtuous and cherishing one's relatives"? If one can yield the country, who else can one yield to? What is the meaning of the "virtue" in "spreading benevolence and serving virtue"?
Anyone with a modicum of insight in this world can see clearly that the Kuang family should never even dream of cleansing up the so-called evils, unless they produce a true lord.

Even if Kuang Liuting, who has only reached the Golden Core stage and whose position as heir apparent is not yet secure, is in a hurry, the affairs of this world will not be altered by his personal will.

Since he can't control them, the monks working within the government office naturally have their own emotions and desires. For their own selfish interests, they collude, form alliances through marriage, and build factions—what's so unusual about that?
The stale stench emanating from the Xuanqiong Palace was like a leech clinging to a bone. The moment it reached the Qin State Duke's Mansion, it was destined that Kuang Liuting would be hampered and lose his edge by the various cultivators he had summoned to do his bidding.

Marquis Feng'en, Kuai En, is one such example. He has now climbed up to become a high-ranking official under the Ninth Prince, and is also a disciple of the Prince of the South and a prince consort of the imperial family. He is no longer the subservient and obedient junior relative by marriage who used to fawn over the Grand Master Kang.

When Kang Dabao first sent a few letters, Kuai En could still find some excuses and write back to him, even if he had to hold his nose.
If another letter is sent afterward, it will only be a standard official document as an excuse;
After that, it became extremely difficult to even utter a single word.
Therefore, no matter how resentful the sect leader Kang was, he could only guard his gates for the time being, and it was difficult for him to make any further progress.

Qin Sufu clearly saw through Kang Dabao's inner turmoil. The wine pot in his hand seemed to be half-filled with spring water. Even though he tilted his head back and drank for a long time, the amount of wine in the pot did not decrease much.

He raised his hand to brush away the wine stains from his short beard, then snatched the empty cup from Kang Dabao's table, filled it with wine, and said loudly, "It is difficult to do things in this world. You have done an impeccable job, and it is only natural that you feel that you are not up to the task."

However, I am deeply grateful to the Duke for his appreciation and promotion from humble beginnings. I cannot stand idly by and watch Kuai En continue to levy exorbitant taxes and oppress the people in Shannan Road.

"It's not good to hide it from you, my brother. I've already petitioned Prince Consort Shen to resign from my post as the military commander of the Duke's mansion and instead take up a deputy position in the Shannan General's Office."

Kang Dabao gently pushed the cup in his hand onto the table, his expression becoming solemn: "The Earl of Feng'en is now quite powerful, Brother Dao, you should think twice before you go."

"Don't worry, brother," Qin Sufu finished another cup, a glimmer of light burning in his eyes: "I'm not foolish enough to confront him head-on. I will preserve my life and proceed slowly."

However, if anything unforeseen happens in the future, I urge you, my brother, to truthfully recount my words and actions today before Master Shan.

“Brother Dao, you’re too kind. Why go to such lengths?” Kang Dabao frowned slightly, his tone tinged with concern. “Even if Kuai En is arrogant, we had some past acquaintances. Besides, you were personally promoted by the Duke. Even if he has the greatest audacity, he should restrain himself.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Sufu smiled faintly, but the smile did not reach his eyes: "I wish it were so."

As they finished speaking, the evening breeze outside the hall carried the soft tinkling of the copper bells on the eaves, causing the candlelight on the table to flicker and cast the shadows of the two people on the wall, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.

Kang Dabao raised his hand, picked up a full cup of wine, and handed it to Qin Sufu: "Now that you have made your decision, I wish you good luck on your journey and that you will be able to protect the peace and tranquility of the southern region."

Qin Sufu reached out and took the cups, the two clinking together with a light, crisp sound. "I also wish you, my brother, to guard these twelve prefectures of Chongming well, and not let this pure land be tainted by the filth of the outside world." The two drank it down together, the wine entering their throats, spicy with a touch of melancholy. The candlelight flickered, the smoke curling upwards, seemingly carrying away the slight estrangement between them.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

With Chu Yanran and her husband traveling with Kang Changyi, Kuang Liuting not yet leaving seclusion, and Zen Master Huiming returning to Zhongzhou, and with the unapproachable Nascent Soul cultivator Shen Lingfeng, the Silver Knife Prince Consort, Kang Changyi naturally had little opportunity to get close to him.

Having met the Buddhist disciple Ga Da, paid respects to the Fei family patriarch, and reunited with his old friend Qin Sufu, Kang Dabao no longer felt that there was anyone in Fengming Prefecture City worth his personal visit.

Of course, since it was a rare opportunity for Master Kang to come all the way from Yangmingshan, he would naturally send his spirit puppets to deliver the gifts to the nobles of the mansion.

Moreover, even some corrupt officials and sycophants in key positions, despite their lowly rank, cannot forget this. After all, the saying "It's easier to see the King of Hell than to deal with his underlings" applies not only in the netherworld.

He sent another letter to Fazhou, saying that while Wuweilou had indeed come to the fore, its strength was not particularly outstanding among Golden Core sects, so he resumed his old business of buying and selling information.

Of course, the Qin State Duke's Mansion now wields far more power than the likes of the Liangyi Sect, so She Fuyi, as a female Daoist, is naturally much more cautious and knows what she can and cannot explore.

However, She Fu had no reason to be afraid of third-tier demonic beasts like the Xuanwu Hidden Scale Beast, which were rootless and adrift.

According to Master Kang, since this beast is wandering around without a fixed place to live, it wouldn't hurt to inquire about Wuwei Tower first.

After Kang Dabao had settled the above matters, he went to Wanbao Trading Company and chatted for a few words with Su Mei, the rather beautiful manager.

He carefully confirmed with the beautiful woman that there were no auctions being held recently before using his private funds to purchase two Core Formation spiritual items from Wanbao Trading Company and bring them back to his sect.

It must be said that while the items displayed at Wanbao Trading Company were quite expensive, the goods inside were also quite complete.

In Kang Dabao's eyes, the third-tier mid-grade "Cloud Dew Jade Fungus" was a top-tier Golden Core Spiritual Object that was compatible with the "Mysterious Purity and Prosperity Secret Manual," a high-grade cosmic-level cultivation technique. It was just right for Kang Rongquan at the moment.

Although Duan Anle's lower-grade "Jiangzhu Tongming Zhenzhang" was a grade lower, it was still usable, so Kang Dabao prepared a copy for him as well.

Then there's the eldest son, Kang Changyi, who is also about to form his core. When he went into seclusion to form his core last time, he used the "Crimson Flame Flower" prepared for him by his master, Chu Yanran, to aid his breakthrough.

Everything was going smoothly until the very last step, when all their efforts were in vain.

Even if Kang Changyi was a direct disciple, Chu Yanran's provision of a Core Formation spiritual item slightly weaker than a Core Formation cultivator was already a great effort.

The sect leader, Kang, was unsure whether his senior would prepare anything else for him. Seeing that there was a "Flame Core Melting Heart Grass" in the Wanbao Trading Company's counter, which might be somewhat compatible with Kang Changyi's "Nine Tribulations of Wind and Flame Technique," he bought it to keep on hand.

Originally, Chongming Sect had done a lot of things like destroying mountains and temples over the years, so golden pills and spiritual items were already rare. However, because Chongming Sect was well-disciplined, it still had nearly ten sets in its treasury.

However, when it came to his eldest son born out of wedlock, his own sons and disciples, and his capable grandsons, Master Kang could hardly resist the temptation to be like them.

Even though he had important matters to attend to when he was traveling far away, he still remembered to purchase higher-grade and more suitable Core Formation materials for his close juniors.

These three rare herbs are quite expensive. As the alchemists of this dynasty often say, "Medicine has no single purpose."

For example, spiritual plants like Cloud Dew Jade Fungus and Flame Core Melting Heart Grass are not only used to aid cultivators in forming their cores. They are also included in some popular third-tier spiritual pill formulas, and even Golden Core cultivators find them coveted, making them extremely sought-after.

If it weren't for the fact that the Grand Master Kang hadn't yet used up the windfall he had received, he probably would have had to exchange some magic treasures and elixirs at Wanbao Trading Company before he could acquire these three spiritual herbs.

Because of Kang Dabao's lavish gesture, Su Mei looked at him with even higher regard.

Having been in this industry for a long time, she had a general idea of ​​what kind of status and wealth someone should have. Su Mei was used to seeing how the so-called leaders and elders of those small sects appeared glamorous on the surface but were actually struggling financially.

Powers like Wanbao Trading Company are not short of spirit stones. Su Mei originally wanted to do Wu Ninghou another favor, but unexpectedly the latter was actually quite wealthy.

In his eyes, although this Sect Leader Kang had haggled for a long time and looked pained when he took out the spirit stones, he could still produce a sum of spirit stones that would make even a Grandmaster Golden Core cultivator hesitate.

She had no idea where Kang Dabao had made his fortune, and having heard about the current situation in Huangpi and Yunjiao Prefecture, she knew that Chongmingzong had not engaged in any exploitative practices.

This made the beautiful woman exclaim in her heart: "People outside always say that Marquis Wu Ning is skilled in management and has a knack for making money. Things that were not taken seriously in the past are only beginning to show some promise now."

As he turned to leave, Sect Leader Kang had no idea that he had surprised even the handsome manager of Wanbao Trading Company. He simply took the spiritual treasures he had acquired and greeted Guan Cheng, who came from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, at the city gate before hurrying back to the sect.

The longer Ye Sui, the patriarch of the Fei family in Yingzhou, lives, the more secure Kang Dabao and his Chongming Sect will be in facing future troubles. Although he still doesn't know what the Xuanwu Hidden Scale Beast is for, he still needs to complete this task as soon as possible.

The sect leader, Kang, concealed his spiritual power and rode away on a cloud.

After Kang Dabao achieved the Great Perfection of the Golden Core, whenever he came to this great city to make purchases, he would habitually lower his cultivation level and reveal his precious light outside the immortal city and market, so as to do business by pretending to be weak while actually being strong.

If you're lucky, you won't waste a single moment on the journey and might even encounter a few notorious bandits. You can do some good for the peace of the area, and after returning home, you can take stock of the storage bags you've collected and perhaps even save up half a Foundation Establishment Pill.

However, Sect Leader Kang had something on his mind this time, so he didn't deliberately reveal the radiance of his aura. The spiritual power of a late-stage Golden Core cultivator was also extremely dazzling, and no bandit dared to come and offend him in the slightest.

However, he hadn't quite shaken off the peddler's smell, and by sheer coincidence, he was in the clouds within the territory of Shannan Province, where he stumbled upon a clichéd case of murder and robbery.

Seeing that neither side had a beautiful woman among them, Kang Dabao didn't bother to look at them any longer. But just as he was about to look away, he realized that the person being attacked was someone he knew.

The one who led the ambush was a hunchbacked Golden Core cultivator. In the eyes of Sect Leader Kang, he had just advanced in his cultivation, and it seemed that even his core essence had not been fully transformed. Yet he was out doing this life-or-death business; it must have been tough for him.

Along with the hunchbacked golden elixir, there were also two fake elixir cultivators, both of whom possessed magical treasures and were quite wealthy.

Kang Dabao had excellent eyesight. After observing for only a few moments, he realized that the three of them shared the same lineage and came from the same school. As for the one who was surrounded, although his cultivation was slightly more profound, his situation was still precarious.

After thinking for a while, Sect Leader Kang still didn't ignore it, and then stopped and spoke up: "Senior Wufeng?!"

Upon hearing this soft cry, the battered Wu Feng Shangxiu felt no different from Xian Le. After recognizing Kang Dabao in the distance, he disregarded their past relationship and, as if seeing a lifeline, cried out:
"Please, Sect Leader Kang, save my life!!!"

"Sect Leader Kang?!"

Among the various sects nearby, there are a few sect leaders surnamed Kang, but only the one nicknamed "Good at Deceiving Women" is capable of forming a Golden Core.

After the three, led by the hunchbacked Golden Core cultivator, realized what was happening, they immediately began to tremble involuntarily.

Fortunately, Sect Leader Kang was very considerate. He compared the three people's faces with their cultivation techniques and magical treasures one by one. Without the three people even knowing their names, they recognized that this was a group of treacherous cultivators who had been rampant in Shannan Dao for one or two hundred years, called one of the Thirty-Six Fiends of Tiger Mountain.

The local customs in the south of the mountain are really not as good as before. In the past, these people who were hated by everyone in the Golden Core sects would not dare to plunder recklessly on the bustling main road without any cover.

These cultivators, who lacked any real foundation and each possessed their own magical treasures, were, in Kang Dabao's eyes, thin-skinned but full of substance, and there was absolutely nothing to fear from them.

He didn't care whether the Thirty-Six Fiends of Tiger Mountain had dwindled to only three people over the past one or two hundred years, or whether they had grown into something unbearable under Kuai En's laissez-faire attitude.

With a flick of his sleeve and a flash of his halberd, before Wu Feng Shangxiu could even hear the cries of pain, he saw three corpses fall to the ground and never rise again.

"It's been many years since we last met, and Senior Wufeng's demeanor is even more impressive than before."

Seeing that Headmaster Kang was leisurely picking up the storage bags one by one, Wu Feng Shangxiu, who was still secretly pleased with himself for surviving the ordeal, finally remembered:
"Damn it, it seems this kid still has some score to settle with me."

(End of this chapter)