On the road.
"Godfather."
Ruan Yutu whispered softly:
"The master instructed that you are the fifth elder of the Inner Discussion Pavilion, but your identity is not publicly disclosed... Do you want to visit the Inner Discussion Pavilion now?"
"No."
Zhang Fusheng cheerfully denied:
"I have other matters to attend to... I heard from Old Su that when you were born, you didn’t know who your parents were?"
"Yes."
Ruan Yutu replied softly:
"The master illuminated the mories of my infancy for . I was not born from a ten-month pregnancy; from the first mont I opened my eyes, I was on a solitary mountain."
Zhang Fusheng was intrigued:
"Then you are..."
The girl’s voice was like the sound of pearls clashing:
"It was by the favor of heaven and earth that I survived. When thirsty, rainwater would fall; when hungry, fruits would be blown to by the wind."
"The beasts of the mountain regarded as one of their own. Tigers, leopards, plum deer, and others, all nursed with their milk."
"In this way, I stumbled through life in the forest until I was nine, when I t my master."
Zhang Fusheng listened, his eyes widening.
"Was your na given by Old Su?"
"In response to godfather, yes and no."
Ruan Yutu answered ticulously:
"That solitary mountain was called Ruan Mountain, so my master gave the surna Ruan. From the unknown place of my birth, I had a jade plaque engraved with the words ’Yutu.’
"So, I took the na Yutu."
Zhang Fusheng pondered thoughtfully, a person of perfection receiving nine blessings from heaven...
He suddenly realized that what could be traded in the Contract wasn’t just cultivation, talents, lifespan, or identity...
Character, in fact, could also be bought and sold.
Golden City was approaching.
"Let’s stop here."
Zhang Fusheng looked at Ruan Yutu, as ethereal as an immortal:
"You should return to Golden City first. I will visit the Inner Discussion Pavilion later."
Ruan Yutu bowed, head lowered:
"Yutu respectfully sends off godfather."
The young man smiled, stepping on golden lotuses that blossod with each step, and disappeared into the waiting area,
until he was completely out of sight, and only then did the girl return to Golden City.
Holding that otherworldly Other Shore flower in her hand.
She went back to Golden City, entering the Governor’s Mansion.
Soone ca to report.
"Lord Ruan, Cui Qingyi of the Cui Family submitted a report, claiming there is already rebellion stirring throughout Chongyang City."
"Furthermore, it is said that the head of the Public Security Bureau, Zhang Fusheng, has allegedly absconded..."
Ruan Yutu listened quietly, slightly furrowing her brows at the ntion of Zhang Fusheng.
She felt sowhat uneasy, as this person shared the sa na as the godfather she had just acknowledged, making it sound sowhat awkward.
"I understand."
Ruan Yutu said calmly:
"Do not intervene in Chongyang’s affairs for the ti being. People from the capital have arrived, and their first stop might be Chongyang."
After a pause, she continued:
"Continue training the troops. Independence is not too far off. Also, send soone to further contact the Qinghe Cui Family to attempt an alliance."
"Yes, my lord." The ssenger retreated, Ruan Yutu’s gaze falling upon the Other Shore flower in her hands, murmuring to herself:
"The cycle of life and death, guiding the departed souls..."
She carefully placed the Other Shore flower into a jade box, reverently enshrining it.
......
In the waiting area.
"Heaven’s favor, Su Qiansuan, Ruan Yutu..."
Zhang Fusheng stood on the bustling street, frowning in contemplation.
He didn’t see much promise in the Golden Province’s rebellion and independence, but as Su Qiansuan said, why not take a share if it’s free?
It’s just that Zhang Fusheng understood that this share was to be given to the ’many gods’ behind him,
but he couldn’t comprehend why the Golden Governor insisted on giving him an adopted daughter.
What did that old fox want to do?
Zhang Fusheng pondered, a decision forming in his mind that regardless of what Old Su intended, he rely needed to wait and see.
The independence and rebellion of an entire province would likely cause big trouble, involving even divine-level figures,
he couldn’t be the one to stick his neck out.
A tall tree catches the wind.
After purchasing a ticket for the flight to Chongyang City the next day, Zhang Fusheng quietly waited at the airport, yet his thoughts had already drifted with the High Heaven Order, descending to the Great Wilderness outside the waiting area.
......
In the depths of the mountains.
Dusk.
"Shouldn’t we head back?"
Luo Cheng wiped his sweat, leaning on his hiking staff:
"We have an early flight tomorrow morning, and if we’re delayed, we might not make it in ti."
"What’s the rush?"
The ponytailed girl pouted:
"Everything is planned ticulously, let’s walk a bit further? In geomancy, details are the most important."
Luo Cheng smiled wryly:
"I’m just worried it’ll be late and unsafe. There’s no one out here in the wilderness..."
"Exactly!"
Li Yiyi’s eyes shone:
"You’ve already said there’s no one around, so what danger could so wild beasts pose to us?"
She looked at the map, speaking seriously:
"Once we’ve searched here and found nothing, it’ll be down to just Chongyang City... It must be in one of these two places!"
Luo Cheng resignedly:
"Alright, alright, but I still don’t understand why you’re searching for your ancestral tomb?"
"Ancestral tomb, huh!"
Li Yiyi glared at him:
"It’s the grand tomb of my ancestors! Don’t you believe ?"
"I do believe you..."
Luo Cheng shrank back:
"But I always feel it’s a bit unreliable, dreaming about a map and ancestors showing you in a dream where to find the tomb, it all sounds dubious."
Li Yiyi sighed:
"I know... but I’ve had this dream for over twenty years, continuously, having traveled through the wilderness surrounding many cities..."
Luo Cheng shook his head:
"Then we’ll keep looking. Like you said, it’s only here and Chongyang left."
The two continued to cross mountains, carrying a compass, climbing and gazing across mountains, employing so secret technique with their eyes filled with a faint clarity.
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