Chapter Ten: I Am the Southern Flowing Light, Racing to See My Lord!

The Jade Capital map unfolded vividly in Chen Zhian’s mind, and the vitality within his body began to surge. A certain part of the map, once shrouded in darkness, gradually emitted a radiant light.

Chen Zhian’s consciousness settled upon the map; he turned his head, his gaze piercing through countless miles until it reached a vast marsh suffused with spiritual energy—it was the Kunlun Marsh.

In a daze, he looked back and then raised his head, beholding a lofty platform suspended in the sky, enveloped in swirling clouds and mist. Clear water trickled on the cloud terrace, and the mist wreathed around it like a celestial realm.

“Where is this?”

As this thought just surfaced, the clouds above suddenly thickened and formed a line of grand characters:

“I am Nan Liu Jing, speeding light to see my lord!”

With these words suspended in midair, the cloud-formed terrace abruptly turned crimson, a blazing glow radiating outward and dispersing the mist!

Beneath the golden crow clouds, the vermilion light scatters the azure glow!

A golden sun slowly rose from the mist, shining brightly in the sky, piercing through heaven and earth. Within the golden sun, various extraordinary phenomena appeared.

Among these wonders, profound brilliance soared, emerald clouds gathered solemnly, and mysterious birds—golden crows—flew in and out of sight, an astonishing spectacle.

In the heavens stood the White Jade Capital, with its twelve towers and five cities.

Besides the Kunlun Marsh, marked by its fiery red glow, another city within the White Jade Capital manifested before Chen Zhian’s eyes.

“The Eastern City of the White Jade Capital—Nan Liu Jing!”

Nan Liu Jing was one of the five cities of the White Jade Capital and also the sun suspended in the sky, illuminating the vast White Jade Capital above.

Chen Zhian saw the burning sun blazing in the sky, and as he formed the image of the sun in his mind, the vitality within his body suddenly boiled with intense fervor!

Following the method described in the Great Snow Mountain’s Vitality Cultivation Scroll, he summoned the blood energy inside him, guiding the blood to flow, circulating through the microcosmic orbit. Even stranger transformations began to unfold.

“When I envision Nan Liu Jing, the blood within me feels as heavy as mercury, yet as fiery as molten lava.”

“Mercury and magma fused into one, accelerating even the speed of cultivating vitality.”

Chen Zhian was greatly astonished.

“The Great Snow Mountain’s scroll notes that among the world’s methods, there is a technique of visualization. If one can obtain a unique image for contemplation, it greatly aids one’s cultivation… This Eastern City Nan Liu Jing rising slowly is indeed like a magnificent painting. My visualization of Nan Liu Jing has indeed benefited my cultivation.”

Chen Zhian was elated until a wave of dizziness swept through his mind.

The magnificent scene of the White Jade Capital suddenly blurred, distorted, and then vanished.

Originally seated cross-legged on his bed, Chen Zhian jolted awake, collapsing back onto the mattress.

“Damn, the blood energy accumulated too rapidly, too heavy. My body hasn’t yet adapted to the blood energy transformation—I can’t quite hold on.”

Chen Zhian’s consciousness dimmed gradually, his final thought was: “Tomorrow, I must hurry to the market to buy some medicinal herbs to brew into a potion.”

——

In the spring of the 23rd year of the Great Yu Dynasty’s Da Zhi era, on the ninth day of the second month.

Shen Haohau stood inside a small pavilion at the Iron Arm General’s mansion, looking down at a painting delivered by a servant, feeling it was exceptionally special.

Not far outside the pavilion, along the path winding through the murmuring pond, a young lady dressed in white with a simple skirt was walking under an oiled-paper umbrella, followed by a maid.

It was Xu Xiyue and her maid Xin Tong.

Xu Xiyue entered the pavilion. Despite her profound cultivation and spiritual presence, Shen Haohau did not notice her and kept her gaze focused on the painting, her eyes shining with delight.

The Shen household maid attending inside the pavilion wanted to warn her lady but was stopped by Xu Xiyue with a raised hand.

Xu Xiyue stepped forward a few paces but did not approach closely, instead standing on tiptoe to look.

Shen Haohau was petite and delicate, while Xu Xiyue was tall and slender. Though standing some distance apart, Xu Xiyue could still clearly see the painting in Shen Haohau’s hands.

The painting was about one and a half feet long. The paper, though fine, was somewhat yellowed. It was likely made in the Luo Shen Mansion but was not of the highest-grade Luo Shen or Luo River paper; rather, it was the slightly inferior but much cheaper Luo Mountain paper.

On the paper was a portrait of Shen Haohau.

This portrait was unusual; it was not rendered with ink and brush but with a single color and many lines, yet it perfectly captured Shen Haohau’s appearance.

“Hm?”

Xu Xiyue was very surprised because the painting resembled Shen Haohau so much.

Shen Haohau’s eyebrows and eyes, her sly smile, and the innate innocence and charm in her lovely face were all faithfully depicted.

Such a strikingly accurate portrait was a rare sight for Xu Xiyue, who was usually well-informed and experienced.

Due to this soft sound of “hm”, Shen Haohau, who had been engrossed in the painting, finally noticed Xu Xiyue. Turning around to see her, her smile grew even more radiant.

Her cheeks flushed pink, paired with a long braid and her curved brows and eyes—pitifully adorable.

“Sister Xiyue,” Shen Haohau put away the portrait, stepped forward a few paces, and hummed softly. “I arrived at Su Nan Mansion the day before yesterday and even went to the Xu Mansion to find you but missed you. It’s good you came to see me today…”

Xu Xiyue seemed to understand Shen Haohau’s nature and smiled.

“I’m not as free and easy as you. Yesterday, General Li Bodu of the Xuanzi army arrived at Su Wu Prefecture. Not just Su Nan Mansion, but all of Su Wu Prefecture—and even the surrounding Jiang Huai, Cang Ding, and Qing Chuan prefectures—countless large families and clans involved in the medicinal herb trade waited respectfully in front of his lodging, hoping for his favor and a chance to meet him.

“I… could only wait as well.”

Shen Haohau then softened the anger she had been pretending and looked at Xu Xiyue with sympathy.

“I know Sister Xiyue hates scheming and flattery the most. It seems that wealth and prosperous business aren’t necessarily blessings.”

Xu Xiyue shook her head.

“No one in the family is qualified to bow and scrape before such noblemen, so I have to go.”

Shen Haohau greatly admired Xu Xiyue’s composure and then said,

“This morning early, General Li came to visit my grandfather. He did mention the Xu family’s name, but I’m not sure if it will help.”

She sighed after speaking.

“My grandfather is old, his reputation waned, and his cultivation has declined greatly since the battle at Iron Buddha Pass. He has been away from court affairs for over ten years. Li Bodu’s visit is probably out of old friendship with my grandfather, but his words… no longer carry much weight.”

Xu Xiyue frowned immediately.

“Haohau! When we met at Qixia Mountain, I didn’t know your identity and befriended you purely out of affinity, not to use the Iron Arm General’s fame for gain.

“You didn’t consult me before asking the Iron Arm General to speak on my behalf. What would the old general think of me?”

Shen Haohau promptly stepped forward, linking her arm with Xu Xiyue’s, smiling.

“It won’t hurt to let grandfather say a few words, but it probably won’t make much difference. I know you’re not one to seek favor through flattery. Besides… in the eyes of those high officials, my grandfather is no longer a person of power.”

Xu Xiyue flicked Shen Haohau lightly on the forehead.

“Don’t say such things. The Iron Arm General’s contributions to our Great Yu are well recorded in history, not something that can be erased overnight. Moreover, since you joined the Guiyun Chamber and became a disciple of the Yun family, if your name is ever inscribed on the Young Tiger Monument, no one in Great Yu will dare to underestimate the Iron Arm General’s mansion on Qi Huang Street.”

“Then what about Sister Xiyue?” Shen Haohau followed up.

“The characters in the Qixia Mountain waterfall—you clearly understood most of it. Why then leave the mountain and return to Su Nan Mansion to pursue mere gold and silver?”

Xu Xiyue fell silent, and after a long pause said,

“There’s no choice. Our Xu family has no male heirs; I have to take on the responsibility. I can train at Qixia Mountain, travel to Xuantian Capital, and meet you only because of the family’s modest silver. Having used the family’s money, I must bear the family’s burden. To my father, the empire he built is worth more than anything.”

Outside the pavilion, Xin Tong, waiting quietly, heard her lady’s words and felt a pang of sympathy.

Shen Haohau stomped her foot.

“But that doesn’t justify throwing a bridal ball; that’s too frivolous… Sister Xiyue, who exactly received the bridal ball?”

Xu Xiyue did not answer but turned her head, smiling brightly at Shen Haohau.

“Speaking of which, we’re both from Su Nan Mansion, yet we never met at Qixia Mountain before. Afterward, we saw each other several times only in Xuantian Capital. Since you didn’t grow up in Su Nan Mansion, I’ll take you to try the rice cakes in the alley next door—they’re delicious.”

Shen Haohau knew Xu Xiyue didn’t want to talk more and sensed her urgency about the bridal ball. It was likely Xu Xiyue’s way to leave a descendant for the Lianzhou Xu family, fulfilling her duty before returning to Qixia Mountain.

She glanced at Xu Xiyue’s profile, as pure and translucent as jade, and thought this idea was childish.

“I wonder who’s lucky enough to catch Sister Xiyue’s bridal ball.”

Xu Xiyue suddenly asked with curiosity,

“That portrait you held just now is interesting, too much like you, but it seems not to be made with ink…”

Shen Haohau, still thinking about Xu Xiyue’s affairs, replied casually,

“I looked closely too; it’s probably drawn with charcoal pencil.”

Xu Xiyue also asked casually,

“Charcoal pencil? How peculiar. Xuantian Capital really is full of talented people.”

Shen Haohau shook her head.

“That portrait was painted by my neighbor and delivered today.”

“Neighbor?” Xu Xiyue frowned.

Before she finished, Xin Tong whispered softly behind her,

“Miss, you’re always so busy, you probably haven’t seen the wanted posters plastered all over the streets. Some are drawn with charcoal pencil.”

“There’s only one in the Yellow Gate who draws with charcoal pencil and lives on Qi Huang Street… Chen Zhian.”

Xu Xiyue was slightly taken aback.

“Chen Zhian?”

Shen Haohau was surprised.

“You know my neighbor?”

Xu Xiyue had intended to discuss the bridal ball but recalled that Chen Zhian was unwilling to marry into the Xu family. Feeling guilty for deceiving her close friend Shen Haohau, she hesitated to reply.

“We met your neighbor a few times at the prefecture’s workshop,” Xin Tong, perceptive, spoke to ease Xu Xiyue’s concerns. “Miss Shen didn’t grow up in Su Nan Mansion, so it’s surprising she recognizes her own neighbor.”

“I only met him yesterday.”

Involved were the grudges between the Li and Chen families, and Chen Zhian’s uncle’s private matters. Shen Haohau remained courteous and vague.

“I helped him drive away some troublemakers. He painted a picture to thank me.”

“Chen Zhian’s painting is quite good,” Xu Xiyue recalled Chen Zhian speaking to her that night.

He carried two hundred taels of gold but seemed unaware of the dangers that wealth could bring. Were it not for her kindness in escorting him, there might have been a corpse in that long, dark alley.

She had no idea that Chen Zhian had actually wanted to take a detour that night.

This young lady of the Xu family was amazed that such an ordinary youth possessed such a unique skill.

“Ordinary people have their extraordinary sides,” Xu Xiyue thought silently. “A young man with two hundred taels of gold rarely keeps control. When he wastes it all, having such a skill might at least keep him alive.”