Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 644 Old Friendships, New Beginnings: A Web of Wind and Clouds
— Chongming Sect, Yangming Mountain
"Master, what did the letter from Wuwei Tower say?" Duan Anle asked with concern, while the composed Headmaster Kang casually handed the letter to him and said softly:
"Just as the elders of the Fei family said, news came from the Duke's mansion. This time, the fight with Shanshan angered these people from the capital. Even though it was the Duke's mansion's troops who entered our territory without permission first, they acted as if they had suffered some great injustice."

After listening to Kang Dabao's speech and carefully reading each word of the letter, Duan Anle asked, "Hmm, so it is indeed as the Fei family's letter said, that the Earl of Feng'en may be looking for trouble with our Chongming Sect?!"

"That's not necessarily true. Kuai En can't be as easily manipulated as he was in Tanggu County. A fool can't become a golden elixir. He knows that the officials of the government are using him as a pawn. Let's wait and see how he reacts."

"Don't worry too much. Even if the local militia he's exploiting and raising in the south is elite, it's impossible for them to arrive at my Chongmingzong's gate tower overnight."

Kang Dabao spoke in a low voice, his tone revealing a hint of worry beyond his words.

After all, this matter is not simple. In fact, if he had a choice, the Grand Master Kang would not want to have a conflict with the Sand Mountain group in Yunjiao Prefecture.

But after all, Fei Yeqing had personally instructed Fei Yeqing to find the Mani Leaf, so making this choice after weighing the options was not difficult.

Hearing this, Kang Changxi frowned and said fiercely, "These people are far too domineering!"

"You've already reached the Golden Core stage, how can you still talk like a child?!" Kang Dabao's tone was slightly reproachful, but he couldn't help but sigh afterwards:
"When you went back to your maternal home with your mother in your younger years, you always had to endure some humiliation, let alone these big shots who think they have a better background, who are inherently domineering."

Sometimes, you can't let these kinds of people get away with it. Otherwise, even if you obediently accept a slap, they'll complain that you were too slow to change your expression.

They don't care whether you earned your title through fighting or buying it; what matters is that you don't have a real person backing you up. Even if they're terrified when they face you, they won't stop talking.

This time, however, Master Kang did not seem to be trying to avoid offending the elders, since, in the end, he himself had his reasons.

The obedient demeanor he usually puts on is just a way to avoid being remembered or talked about, but when it really comes down to turning on someone, Kang Dabao never hesitates.

In his view, if they were to cower and swallow their anger again, like the ordinary families around them who let the people from the capital take whatever they wanted, it would be disastrous.
Then the slight upward trend that he had painstakingly cultivated in the Chongming Sect might be shattered again.

"Heh, we'll have to settle accounts with them sooner or later." Kang Changxi's expression softened slightly, and he only gave a soft rebuke before falling silent again.

He was a legitimate son who had been pampered since childhood, and was not very good at these seemingly simple household chores.

Fortunately, his father was willing to cultivate him, which is why Kang Changxi has been following Duan Anle around these days, listening attentively to gain some insights and broaden his knowledge.

If we follow what Sect Leader Kang thinks, if Kang Changxi really makes progress, then when Duan Anle and the others go into seclusion to form their cores, he might be able to be put forward to act as the sect leader.

The Chongming Sect is expanding rapidly, and sometimes it needs a Golden Core cultivator to sit in that position to keep things in order.

Otherwise, apart from Duan Anle, who was highly respected among the disciples, even Kang Rongquan and Jin Shilun could only control half of the disciples in the sect.

As for Shan Yong and Zhu Yunsheng, even though they had all become alchemists and lived to the age of sixty, apart from each managing their own affairs, they still found it difficult to gain the trust of their disciples.

"Alright, it's just a matter of sending letters. I'll also send a letter with the Shannan Circuit Governor's Office and see which one is more useful!"

After Kang Dabao finished speaking, a glimmer of spiritual light immediately appeared at his fingertips, and a piece of spiritual silk slowly unfolded on the table in front of him. He didn't seem to be doing it seriously; he just wrote a few strokes hastily and then casually put it away.

Upon seeing his master's actions, Duan Anle noticed that the bone flute at his waist had risen and was playing softly on its own. After only a dozen breaths, a second-tier golden-feathered owl that had been waiting outside the council hall landed in the hall with its head bowed and respectfully took the spirit silk from the hands of the Grand Master Kang.

The latter was not stingy; he immediately bestowed a spirit fruit upon the child and then said with a smile, "I advise you, Xiao'er, to hurry on your journey. Feng Enbo is a disciple of the Southern King and is extremely generous. The sooner you arrive, the sooner you will enjoy this generous gift."

Although the golden-feathered owl was not yet sentient, it could still understand human speech. It then bowed and kowtowed in a rather comical manner before happily heading to the Shannan Road General Administration Office.

"Anle, you've really done a good job managing this beast garden," Headmaster Kang said, a flash of joy crossing his eyes.
"When I discussed the Dao with Yang Wuwei last time, he always mentioned how he had seen the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect in the northern mountain region. I wonder how long it will take for our Chongming Sect's Beast Garden to earn the complete respect of even Golden Core cultivators."

Duan Anle showed no fear, but replied solemnly, "Master, if you can ensure that the Chongming Sect's Beast Garden is better today than yesterday, then we will see that day come eventually."

"That's right, those words are very pleasing to the ear. With you in charge, I feel at ease." Seeing Kang Dabao's face brighten even more, Kang Changxi glanced at Duan Anle with a hint of envy for his senior brother.

After all, when it comes down to it, none of the brothers seem to know as well as Duan Anle how to talk and get along with their father as well.

"Speaking of which, it seems Yang Wuwei has also been assigned some tasks. Upon hearing the news from the Fei family, the officials of the Duke's mansion intend for him to go to the Ancient Mystic Path to serve as an assistant to Xu Lingzhi."

Kang Dabao spoke with great emotion, recalling how the Yang family of Yezhou had first suffered from a conflict between legitimate and illegitimate sons, which devastated Yezhou for a century; then, two Golden Core cultivators, Yang Baoshan and Yang Yongcheng, fell one after another, and the family was on the verge of collapse, but Yang Wuwei stepped forward again.

I heard that he was highly regarded from the moment he became a disciple of Zuo Zongzheng.

Because of this relationship, even though he suffered difficulties and harsh treatment in the government office, his situation was still much better than that of local cultivators like Qin Sufu who had no background.

Yang Wuwei has now been given a valuable mission, and news has also come from outside that his cousin Yang Wudi is also preparing to form his core.

If it succeeds, then the Yang family of Yezhou will truly show signs of turning from decline to prosperity, which would be a rare occurrence.

During the two hundred years that Master Kang has cultivated, he has taken many lives, but few of them can be called "friends." Yang Wuwei is one of them.

Furthermore, this relative by marriage may also move in to be neighbors with Emperor Chongming, so this relationship should not be neglected, both out of courtesy and reason.

"Has Chang-ge'er returned yet?!"

Upon hearing the question, Kang Changxi quickly replied, "It seems there has been some trouble at Hongyun Mountain, and they haven't returned yet."

"What went wrong?!" Kang Dabao frowned and asked in a cold voice.

"No, that's not it. It's just that Venerable Wen is seriously injured, and the alchemists of Hongyun Mountain are at a loss. Brother Chang asked Junior Sister Qi and Junior Nephews Chen Zihang and Gun Fangmu to see which of the three of them is free and can go to Hongyun Mountain to visit him."

Headmaster Kang frowned even more as he listened, because he didn't think that the Ming Sect had produced so many Golden Core cultivators in recent years, as if these Golden Core cultivators were worthless.

In fact, for sects like Hongyun Mountain, let alone those who cultivate to the Golden Core stage, even the emergence of a fake Core Master would be a cause for great joy.

If the matter of Chongming Sect truly leads to the death of Venerable Wenzun or the loss of his cultivation, that would be a thorny issue.

Those once-dormant states within its jurisdiction will likely feel a sense of unease, like rabbits mourning the death of foxes. This is certainly not a good thing for Emperor Chongming.

Thinking of this, Kang Dabao then spoke up:
"If Qi Ke and the other two have no other choice but to do their best, and also bring me a letter, then we need to send someone from Hongyun Mountain to Fengming Prefecture City and to the Fei family mansion to invite Luan Gongfeng to help."

Furthermore, in this battle to capture Yongli alive, all the families contributed greatly. The Good Deeds Hall is instructed to send someone to verify their achievements, draft the necessary regulations, and bestow precious gifts upon them. Elder Zhou Kun, the Keeper of the Archives, should then review and correct any errors before sending them out.” “Yes,”

—Shannan Circuit General Administration

The newly built Shannan Circuit Governor's Office was built on the site of the former Zhaixing Tower.

Although the area around the Star-Picking Tower is small, this single fourth-order spiritual vein is enough for Kuai En and his core subordinates to cultivate.

This treatment would be the envy of even close relatives of the imperial clan, and it was also one of the ways Emperor Wei had put so much thought into this son-in-law of the imperial clan who possessed the Mingxing Xuanshu Physique.

The relatively prosperous Shannan Circuit was entrusted to Kuai En's care, while the historically impoverished Huangpi Circuit was given the title of Governor-General by Kang Dabao.
The implication is self-evident; even a simple, uneducated woman would likely understand which of the two held greater importance in Emperor Wei's heart.

Ultimately, the Lord of David still reaped the benefits of cultivating Shen Lingfeng back then, believing that Kuai En, who possessed a spiritual body, had a much higher chance of becoming a Nascent Soul than the Grand Master Kang, who had formed a mid-grade Golden Core.

The blue bricks and gray tiles of the governor's mansion were covered with a faint spiritual light. Inside, pavilions and towers were scattered about, and armored soldiers stood solemnly under the corridors. The long swords at their waists were all engraved with the emblems of fierce beasts, exuding the majestic atmosphere of the nobles of the capital.

Marquis Feng'en, Kuai En, sat in the main seat of the main hall. His face was resolute, and his short beard was neatly trimmed. However, there seemed to be a lingering melancholy between his brows, which he rarely let go of.

"My lord, the messenger from Chongming Sect has arrived. It's a second-tier Golden Feathered Owl, and it also carries Kang Dabao's spirit silk." The guard commander bowed and reported, holding the neatly folded spirit silk in his hands, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

Before Kuai En could respond, an official from the other side stepped forward with an urgent letter from the Duke's residence:
"My lord, the Duke's mansion has just issued another order. The wording is even more scathing, stating that Emperor Mingzong has no regard for the law and has arbitrarily clashed with the Duke's army. The order is for you to immediately rectify the Shannan Garrison, go to Yunjiao Prefecture to hold them accountable, and if necessary, take swift and decisive measures to serve as a warning to others."

Kuai En raised his hand and took the letter from the Duke's mansion. The moment he unfolded it, an overwhelming pressure seemed to emanate from between the pages.

The letter was harshly worded, rebuking Chongmingzong for his "usurpation" and implying that Kuai En had failed in his duty to govern Shannan, allowing a local sect to act so presumptuously. He ran his fingers along the edge of the letter, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, but he did not immediately lash out.

Upon picking up Chongmingzong's scroll, he unfolded it and found only a few words written in hasty and casual handwriting, without a trace of flattery.

He only said: "The Duke's army entered the country without prior notice. Emperor Chongming took action against Shanshan to protect the territory. It was purely for self-preservation. If the Marquis of Feng'en needs to verify, he can inquire with the gates of the twelve prefectures under his jurisdiction." He even added at the end: "I have heard that the Marquis of Feng'en is generous. Jin Yuxiao has worked hard and hopes to be rewarded."

After reading them, Kuai En suddenly chuckled and tossed the two letters onto the table: "My uncle is as witty as ever."

The commander of the personal guards asked in bewilderment, "My lord, the Duke's order has been issued. Are we just going to let Chongmingzong go unpunished like this?"

"Let it go?" Kuai En raised an eyebrow, tapping his fingertips on the table. "The gentlemen of the Duke's mansion have a good plan. They want me to be the one to stick my neck out?! They probably all think I'm some foolish young man who just left the clan and can't even tell the difference between spirit wheat and weeds."

In recent years, Chongming Sect has produced several Golden Core cultivators, and my uncle himself is even more unfathomable. Yunjiao Prefecture is a fiefdom bestowed by the current emperor, so even if he had taught the Shanshan group a lesson there before, there would be no reason to find fault with him.

My uncle's military skills are not necessarily inferior to those of the Imperial Guards. If it really comes down to a fight, which of you can compare to Huang Miboren of Yunze Wuzun Hall, or Pu Honggu of Liangyi Sect?

The little wealth I've painstakingly accumulated over the years is meant to secure a foothold for the Ninth Prince in Shannan Prefecture, so I can plan for future great undertakings, not to curry favor with those corrupt officials and parasites.

Upon hearing this, the courtiers did not offer any further advice. Kuai En carefully examined both letters, hesitated for a while, and then seemed to have made up his mind.

With a mere wave of his hand, he summoned the golden-feathered owl that had delivered the message to his side, and took out an item from his spirit ring:
"This is a bottle of spirit beast pills that Qiu Shanyue, the leader of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, gave me when he visited last time. It's fate that I've met you today, Xiao'er. Take it back and show it to my uncle before you eat it, so that he knows that I, as his nephew, am not stingy."

Seeing the jade bottle shimmering with light, Jin Yuxiao first brought its nose close to sniff it, then let out a short, joyful cry, just like a human, and gently rubbed its wing against Kuai En's robe.

Then she carefully took the jade bottle in her mouth, bowed three times to him, and looked so adorable that it made all the close officials in the hall smile.

Looking at its intelligent appearance, and recalling the playful words on Kang Dabao's spirit scroll, Kuai En laughed and said, "Go, go."

With a joyful cry, the golden owl took flight, soaring over the eaves of the governor's mansion and flying swiftly toward Yangmingshan.

They were moving even faster than when they arrived, probably because they were in a hurry to bring the spirit beast pill back to Duan Anle.

After Jin Yuxiao left, the smile on Kuai En's face faded, and he turned to look at his subordinates in the hall:
"As for the Duke's Mansion, according to my previous reply, they have sent people to verify the matter of Yunjiao Prefecture. It is indeed the Duke's Mansion's guards who failed to report the matter according to regulations. Chongmingzong should be credited for protecting the territory, not for overstepping his bounds."

Furthermore, even if Venerable Wenzun of Hongyun Mountain is protecting the people and ensuring their safety in Yunjiao Prefecture, it is only right that he provides relief and compensation to those in the southern part of the mountain. We should send some spiritual medicine to Hongyun Mountain, and this matter can also be reported to the government office to demonstrate our compassion for cultivators and our commitment to maintaining local stability.”

The official bowed and replied, "Your Excellency is wise, but... I'm afraid those officials in the Duke's mansion may not be willing to let this go so easily."

"So you're just going to let this go?" Kuai En sneered, a wisp of spiritual light condensing at his fingertips, drawing a shallow mark on the table. "Do you think that besides Kuang Liuting and the Silver Knife Prince Consort, there's anyone else in that Duke's mansion who's worth my attention?!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the officials in the hall: "Pass down the order: the Shannan Garrison shall remain in good order as before, but shall only guard the border and shall not send a single soldier to Yunjiao Prefecture without authorization."

I am aware that there are some disagreements between our two families, and that my uncle is indeed being overly old-fashioned in some matters. But times have changed. If we rashly resort to force again, we risk playing right into the hands of those people in the Duke's mansion, which would be disastrous.”

Kuai Enxian was highly respected, and when his close advisors heard this, none of them expressed any objection; they all nodded in agreement.

Kuai En walked outside the hall with his hands behind his back. The misty spiritual energy rising from the fourth-order spiritual vein, along with the mountain breeze, swept past the corner of his robe. The swords of the armored soldiers under the corridor gleamed coldly in the twilight.

He gazed at the horizon where the golden owl had disappeared, his eyes deep and thoughtful. He thought to himself, "Given the outdated policies of the Chongming Sect, there may be a conflict between me and this uncle in the future. But now is far from the time. We should wait until the variables emerge before we can make any decisions."

Before the words were finished, the faint sound of a mythical bird flapping its wings could be heard from the distant horizon, as if the Duke of Qin's mansion, which had not yet received any news, was sending another urgent message.

This was not unexpected for Kuai En, causing a subtle, enigmatic smile to appear on his lips.

His fingertips slowly touched the jade pendant at his waist. The warm jade, imbued with the spiritual energy of the veins for many years, shone with a restrained, soft light in the twilight.

His fingertips gently rubbed along the natural curve of the jade, the force neither too fast nor too slow, carrying the composure of someone long accustomed to a high position; even the movement of turning the jade pendant exuded a sense of order and discipline.

The jade pendant's intricately carved vine pattern brushed against my fingertips, its warm and soothing touch comforting me. The sharpness and awkwardness of the past had long since faded, leaving only the dignity that had settled deep within my bones.

Each touch of his fingertips on the jade pendant seemed to distance him further from the old farmer who had once been buried in the spirit field, bowing and scraping before Kang Rongquan.

The mountain wind, carrying the crispness of the spiritual veins, made the banners of the governor's mansion flutter loudly.

In the twilight of this mountain road, an invisible net is being quietly woven, and none of those within it know where their next step will lead.

(If any of you are interested in yesterday's organizational chart, you can join the group to take a look. I tried posting it in the bonus chapter and the comments section, but it was blurry, so I guess I can't upload a high-resolution version.)
(End of this chapter)