Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 206 Danxia Today (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

In any case, before meeting Shen Tang, Ye Tinglan's veil was successfully removed, at least preventing Shen Tang from associating her with the Imperial Advisor.

But things in life are rarely perfect. If one doesn't associate the emperor with the imperial advisor, then other associations will naturally arise...

The three of them flew as fast as they could for several days and finally arrived in Xiazhou.

Looking down from the wheelchair suspended in mid-air, one can see that the spiritual energy has become noticeably denser, no longer as thin and barren as it was before.

While the spiritual energy here is not as abundant as that of Menggui City, which allows people to open cave dwellings and inns within the city, it has already far surpassed that of the neighboring Dongjiang.

The population is visibly flourishing, attracting people from surrounding counties. Xia Prefecture was not small to begin with, but its population was sparse. Now, it looks more and more like a prosperous major prefecture.

It was easy for the imperial court to approve the proposal to relocate the Dongjiang County seat, but the actual relocation was not so quick. It wasn't just a matter of the county governor moving over; it involved changes in many departments.

Chen Jinnian felt that life was like a dream the most. He had just moved to Dongjiang to be the head of the County Pill Bureau for less than half a year, and then he moved back... The government office was still in the same place. He felt a little dazed and wondered if he had not been promoted.

The wheelchair glided through a bustling urban area and arrived at the western suburbs. The lively, mundane atmosphere of daily life began to diminish, but the number of people remained considerable.

Below is a once-thriving sect.

Danxia Mountain is shrouded in a mysterious aura of swords; even from a great distance in the sky, one can feel the chilling sensation of countless swords piercing the skin.

The mountain is home to countless disciples. The strong cultivate in their own areas, while the new disciples gather in the training ground to practice martial arts, full of youthful vigor.

Medicinal herbs are no longer grown in the mountains; the main cultivation area has been moved to the Dongjiang Fenxiang Mountain branch. At the foot of the mountain, there are also rows of farmhouses where apprentices cultivate the land. These were originally Huo family properties, now used as medicinal herb gardens. The former Huo family residence has been converted into a pharmacy for sale, attracting many customers and creating a bustling scene.

The former site of the Danxia Gang and the Shen Family Trading Company has been used as a place for exchanging flying swords and magical treasures. Cultivators from various counties and prefectures come and go, and it has almost replaced the Wanbao Pavilion in the original city.

The core sect and representative landmark of Xia Prefecture have emerged around the brand-new Tianxing Sword Sect.

The wheelchair landed outside the mountain gate. The guarding disciples were dressed in white, their sword intent was awe-inspiring. The uniforms of the sword sect were already well understood, and everyone's face showed the unique fierceness and pride of swordsmen. They were no longer a messy hybrid of the Danxia Gang and the Fenxiang Tower.

"Shen Tang is very capable." Ye Tinglan observed for a moment and commented, "In just half a year, the situation has improved so much... Putting everything else aside, his management skills are very strong."

Lu Xingzhou nodded.

Even back when it was still the Shen Family Trading Company, Lu Xingzhou knew that Shen Tang had strong management skills. She had managed to bring order to the defeated and devastated Tianxing Sword Sect in just a few days. He himself was quite relaxed in Tianxing Sword Sect and didn't need to do the work of a prime minister like he did in the Yama Palace. He only needed to offer suggestions and act as a strategist.

In this respect alone, Shen Tang is much better than Yuan Muyu. Back then, Yuan Muyu only knew how to fight, and it took her a long time to learn how to manage things.

"Halt! You need a visiting card to enter the mountain. For routine trade, you can go to the trading post at the foot of the mountain." The guard stopped the three.

Lu Xingzhou laughed and said, "It's truly a case of 'asking where the guest comes from'."

The guards were taken aback, then looked him up and down. "We've been here for two or three months and haven't seen you. The Heavenly Sword Sect has only been established here for about six months... wait..."

Some people realized that there really was one Tianxing Sword Sect member who had returned after being away for several months, and he was also said to have brought a child with him.

"You want to say you're Elder Lu?" The disciples looked suspicious. "Your appearance and the little bun next to you do seem to be the one... Don't think we don't know anything. Elder Lu is in a wheelchair."

Lu Xingzhou took out the wheelchair he had just put away.

The disciples all took a step back, their gazes now fixed on Ye Tinglan's face.

The next moment, someone ran up the mountain at top speed: "A man who calls himself Elder Lu has brought a woman back!"

Ye Tinglan: "?"

With a "whoosh," a sword light, like a rainbow, shot down from the mountaintop.

The sword stopped abruptly in front of him, the sword light dissipated, revealing Shen Tang's long-unseen face.

She was still sitting in her wheelchair... Her eyes didn't even glance at the stunningly beautiful Ye Tinglan beside her. Her beautiful eyes seemed glued to Lu Xingzhou's face, staring at him intently for a long time without blinking.

Though her face remained calm, the rise and fall of her chest betrayed the excitement in her heart, and the joyful light in her eyes, a light that seemed to overflow with endless tenderness, was palpable.

After a long, long time, she whispered, "You've finally decided to come back? I thought you were going to be gone for a year."

Lu Xingzhou finally spoke up: "I came out for the trial... Even without this incident, I would have found an opportunity to ask for leave and come back to visit. Can you really stay there for a year without moving?"

"That's hard to say. Wherever you are, you're surrounded by beautiful women. Would you really remember that someone is waiting for you here?"

The disciples retreated again in horror.

Although I had heard rumors before I arrived that the sect leader and Elder Lu were probably involved in something, seeing this gossip with my own eyes was still a bit frightening. You guys didn't even try to hide it.

Shen Tang knew perfectly well that she should be discreet, otherwise it would be bad if it got back to Gu Zhanting, but the surging emotions in her heart were hard to suppress. She couldn't simply greet him as if nothing had happened...

When the topic of women came up, Lu Xingzhou's face flushed slightly. He glanced at his disciples and lowered his voice, saying, "This isn't the place to talk. Let's go upstairs." "Let's go to Lingquan Mountain. We've reserved it for you," Shen Tang said, her gaze finally landing on Ye Tinglan's face.

He paused slightly, feeling a sense of familiarity, but couldn't quite place where he'd seen her before. He decided to ignore it and tear it apart as a sign of respect: "As for these beautiful women, we can settle them in the guest quarters first; it wouldn't be appropriate for them to come to your residence together."

Ye Tinglan: "???"

You little princess, you weren't like this when you first met me!
If I hadn't saved you, the grass on your grave would be three feet tall by now, and you'd be tearing me apart?

Lu Xingzhou broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly said, "It's a misunderstanding. This is Mr. Ye from the Dan Academy, my mentor!"

Shen Tang's fighting spirit froze on her face, quickly turning into an apologetic smile: "Um, hello sir..."

Ye Tinglan said coldly, "Can we live on the mountain? Would that be a bad influence?"

"Yes, yes, how could it have any impact? Sir can stay wherever he wants." Although Shen Tang was only being respectful, his doubts about the vixen hadn't disappeared at all.

Such a young and beautiful mentor... We spend every day together, living and working together.

You're saying you're not one of those beautiful women? You're saying Lu Xingzhou really has no feelings for you?

Do you think I learned all the royal palace intrigue techniques, and am I as clueless as Qingli?
Also, doesn't this gentleman's voice sound familiar...?

However, she had very little interaction with the Imperial Preceptor, only exchanging a few words, which made it difficult to reconcile the conversation. So she didn't think too much about it and quickly turned around, wheeling her wheelchair towards Lingquan Mountain: "Let's settle in first. Lingquan Mountain is still exactly as you left it, not a bit changed."

Lu Xingzhou went straight forward and pushed the wheelchair.

Shen Tang's chaotic feelings vanished, replaced by a sweet warmth in her heart: "You don't need to pretend to be in a wheelchair anymore?"

"Hmm, no need. With Mr. Ye's help, people assumed she was the one who cured me, giving me a legitimate reason. It's just a bit of a pity that my last attempt to trick someone failed, and I didn't get to fully utilize my feigned lameness."

Hearing Lu Xingzhou's casual, old-married-couple-like manner, Shen Tang was even more pleased, unable to hide her smile: "Have you been in a lot of fights in the capital? Tell me the stories properly later."

"Of course, I'll tell you everything in detail."

"Truly meticulous in every detail?"

"How could I possibly hide it from you?"

"Alright then, let's talk about Pei Chuyun first."

Lu Xingzhou was dumbfounded: "Do you still have spies in the capital?"

"No." Shen Tang put on a stern face: "Even the news of your becoming the top scholar was relayed from the capital to the Pill Refining Department, and then from the Pill Refining Department to me. Someone with such an important result didn't even write a letter."

“This…” Lu Xingzhou scratched his head, he wasn’t used to writing letters. But given that he had just written a letter to Meng Guan to pass on to Pei Chuyun, he couldn’t say that, so he could only smile apologetically and say, “I’ll definitely do it next time.”

On another note, if you didn't have any spies, how did you know about Pei Chuyun?

But Shen Tang said slowly, "As for Pei Chuyun... I know she's a young lady the Pei family just recognized, and you helped her with that. If you follow the timeline, she's the little demon girl who broke into the mountains back then. Tell me the truth about your motives for helping her with that, and what your relationship is with her, so you won't suffer any more pain."

Lu Xingzhou was astonished: "I thought you didn't know him at all... How did you connect them? Conan, is this...?"

Shen Tang didn't understand who Conan was, but she understood the meaning of the words. She sighed softly, "A woman's keenness in catching someone cheating is top-notch."

As she spoke, her beautiful eyes glanced again at Madam Ye, who was leisurely climbing the mountain beside her.

Take this one for example. I don't believe there's nothing fishy going on between us. I'll settle things here first and deal with you slowly later!
The wooden houses on Lingquan Mountain were built by Lu Xingzhou using the Five Ghosts Moving Method. Although they were crude, there were more than one room, and several rooms in total, so there was no problem accommodating guests.

Built beside a sacred pool, it exudes a delightful spiritual energy. Though simple, it possesses a natural beauty that Ye Tinglan immediately liked; it felt more like a celestial abode than the inns along the way. Lu Xingzhou certainly had a good grasp of aesthetics…

Seeing Lu Xingzhou and Shen Tang being so affectionate all the way, she couldn't be bothered to pay any attention and went into the guest courtyard to meditate, refusing to come out.

So it turns out that Lu Xingzhou and Shen Tang really are in that kind of relationship... It's one thing to be in that kind of relationship, but they should have been hiding it, yet their affection is completely impossible to conceal. This isn't good. If Gu Zhanting finds out, it will only cause more trouble. I'll have to advise Lu Xingzhou later...

As for tonight, since they've been reunited after so long, let's not disturb them for now and talk about it tomorrow.

"It's been a long time since we last met, so I won't worry about what kind of shady business you and that man have." In the main room, Shen Tang stood up from her wheelchair, hugged Lu Xingzhou's waist, and leaned against his chest: "Don't move... let me hear your heartbeat..."

Lu Xingzhou gently hugged her back: "What's so good about this?"

"Listen to see if you've forgotten me in your heart, and listen to see if your heart beats as fast as mine when you see me."

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.

P.S.: Still asking for monthly votes, gotta stick my butt out!
(End of this chapter)