The young Li Tianqing pointed to a large tree by the river in the distance and said, "The tree crown to the north of that tree is missing a corner, which is a mark left by the Six Yin Jade Wheel of my Li Family. In Xin Xiang Province, only my seventh uncle knows how to use the Six Yin Jade Wheel."
The elder was quite astonished by the pair on the slope, one human and one ghost. Hearing this, he redirected his gaze to the large tree and exclaid, "Tianqing, it was right to bring you out this ti. Your observational skills are amazing! That being said, your seventh uncle must have encountered enemies nearby, activating the Six Yin Jade Wheel of our Li Family, only to be overpowered and et an untily death."
He exhaled a turbid breath and said, "Li Kefa brought with him the elite of our Li Family from Water Buffalo County, only to have them all buried in the countryside. The influence of our Li Family in Water Buffalo County was uprooted. Such a feat is likely the doing of another powerful clan! Using this opportunity to annex Water Buffalo County!"
The young Li Tianqing surveyed the loamy slope, and suddenly, with a light exclamation, he briskly approached, scooped up a handful of soil, and pinched it carefully, then placed it on his tongue and tasted it, saying, "It’s kaolin!"
The old man’s eyes widened, tasted it too, spat it out, and exclaid, "It doesn’t taste good at all!"
Li Tianqing pondered and said, "Grandfather, kaolin is used for making porcelain and pottery, not for eating. There’s such a large area of this slope here..."
His gaze swept over the slope, then returned to the ancient tree in the center of Huangpo Village, his eyes lighting up, he smiled and said, "There must be a kiln factory nearby! The True King’s Tomb should also be nearby!"
The elder touched his white hair, not understanding how he had co to that conclusion.
On the loamy slope, Chen Shi was also very curious.
Li Tianqing said, "Such large tombs require a lot of pottery and porcelain. Transporting them from afar attracts attention and is susceptible to damage during transit, so a kiln factory is built nearby to make them. The soil used for the kiln is this kaolin. After the pottery and porcelain are fired, the kiln workers, who know too much, are executed to prevent leaks. This village was conveniently built where the kaolin was stored, and the trees in the village are old enough, probably planted by those people. Thus, the True King’s Tomb is definitely not far from here!"
Chen Shi was greatly impressed and thought to himself, "This young man is about the sa age as , and just as clever."
The elder, overco with excitent and a hoarse voice, said, "If we can find the True King’s Tomb, even if we cannot identify the murderer of Li Kefa, it would be a great achievent for us to return to Quanzhou!"
Li Tianqing shook his head and said, "Two great achievents."
The elder was puzzled.
Li Tianqing said, "The case of the seventh uncle is also easy to solve. Grandfather, look at that crooked-neck willow tree. Such old willow trees are ideal for hanging, frequented by scholars whose lives have not gone as expected, choosing such trees to take their own lives. Given the tree’s age, it surely holds either one or a row of scholars. They most likely witnessed the seventh uncle’s death and know the true culprit. We just have to ask them, and the case can be solved."
The elder was flabbergasted and muttered, "Indeed, there is a scholar hanging from that willow tree... Tianqing, you are truly divine!"
Li Tianqing was sowhat bashful and said, "Just common knowledge..."
"I’ll go ask!"
The elder was about to ascend the slope, when suddenly the space before him violently shook, the small loamy slope in his eyes turning steep as if a golden ceiling hovered overhead!
The elder’s color changed dramatically, and he imdiately retreated.
Only after he left the slope did everything return to normal.
Li Tianqing did not understand.
The elder steadied himself, looked at the slope, and felt as if this modest slope was an unfathomable master, not daring to set foot.
"There are many oddities in the rural areas. When you co to the countryside, first pay respects to the landholder, then you can be safe!"
The elder turned around, no longer attempting to ascend the slope, and said, "Tianqing, although you are clever and sharp, so places require experience beyond cleverness. Let’s first go pay respects to our ’godmother’ here and inquire in the village!"
Two people walked toward Huangpo Village.
Chen Shi’s eyes widened as he watched them heading to the village, puzzled. "Why does that old man seem frightened by the slope? There’s nothing scary there."
"Tianqing, you’ve read a lot of books, do you know who this True King is?"
From ahead, the voices of the grandfather and grandson carried. Li Tianqing said, "It is said that the True King was a king in the West Bull New Continent, appointed by the Emperor of Great Ming, overseeing the society and the land of the West Bull New Continent. The fifty provinces of the West Bull New Continent and the fifty Mountain and River Maps were all once in the hands of the True King, later taken with him into the tomb."
"No wonder these fellows are so concerned about the True King’s Tomb."
The old man chuckled, "Everyone talks about the Great Ming, the Great Ming, but who nowadays knows what the Emperor of Ming’s last na was, or what dynasty the current emperor belongs to? Instead, it’s the treasure of the True King that captures many hearts."
"I know. The Emperor of Great Ming is surnad Zhu. It’s the year 6642 in the reign of Jiajing!"
"Only you would know that; anyone else wouldn’t."
...
As the grandfather and grandson slowly walked further away, Chen Shi quickly got up, gathered his books, and smiled, "Zhu Xiucai, you share the sa surna as the Emperor of Great Ming, Zhu! You couldn’t be part of the imperial family, could you?"
Zhu Xiucai hesitantly said, "I’m just a dood soul, how could I be of the imperial family..."
"I think you aren’t either!"
Chen Shi slung his bookcase over his shoulder, excitedly descending the yellow soil slope toward Huangpo Village.
The village had visitors, which seed quite interesting.
Upon reaching the entrance of the village, he saw the grandfather and grandson also arriving at the outskirts of Huangpo Village. The old man held up a stick of incense, standing outside the village, respectfully saying, "As a traveler who has stumbled upon your esteed village, I humbly request a place to rest for the night. I would be imnsely grateful and will surely offer incense and offerings in the coming days to thank the village’s protector."
—The reason the old man also referred to the ancient tree as ’Protector Mother’ was because the custom of worshipping the Protector Mother among the villagers dated back very early. In the era when Evil Spirits were just beginning, people discovered that all things possess spirits. Worshipping them over ti, they would develop spiritual awareness and possess great powers. Ordinary people couldn’t distinguish whether the spirits were male or female, thus they were called Protector Mother.
The old man, having co to the countryside, naturally followed the local customs.
In Huangpo Village, the ancient tree’s branches gently swayed, accepting his incense.
Only then did the grandfather and grandson enter the village. Li Tianqing followed the old man, matching his steps. At this mont, footsteps approached him, and turning his head, he saw a boy about his age but slightly more robust, smiling at him.
"My na is Chen Shi, my nickna is Little Cheng Shi, and everyone in the village calls Little Honest!"
The boy smiled, "What’s your na?"
Li Tianqing, a bit shy, said in a low voice, "My surna is Li, and my given na is Tianqing..."
"You don’t have a place to stay, why don’t you stay at my house tonight?" Chen Shi suggested before he could finish.
Li Tianqing, having never encountered such warmth, looked at the old man, who smiled and said, "Country people are sincere, and we do need a place to rest for the night, so let’s impose on them for one night."
Chen Shi, delighted, imdiately led them toward his house, calling from afar, "Grandfather, Black Pot, we have guests at ho!"
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