Compared to the Three Northwestern Prefectures with their formidable enemy in the Black Qiang, Chuanxi and Chuannan Circuits were in fact far from peaceful either.
The southern reaches of Chuannan Circuit were dominated by Miao tribes that rebelled from time to time, backed from the shadows by the Five Poisons Sect hidden deep within the hundred thousand mountains of the Miao Frontier.
To the west of the two Sichuan circuits lay the Snowy Plateau. Though sparsely populated and kept only under nominal tributary rule by the Central Plains imperial court, the martial world there harbored a colossal titan: the Snowy Regions Tantric Sect.
While these two regions could not threaten the imperial court's reign in the way the steppe nomads did, causing unrest was well within their power, and their standing in the jianghu was actually higher than that of the grasslands.
This higher standing did not mean they possessed more experts, but rather that their martial arts were far more systematic and carried complete lineages.
The Snowy Regions Tantric Sect, one of the Buddhist lineages beyond the borders, cultivated the three channels and seven chakras. Internally, it was divided into numerous independent branches, yet their internal arts and techniques were completely distinct from those of the Central Plains.
The Five Poisons Sect, situated within the hundred thousand mountains of the Miao Frontier, likewise comprised many branches along tribal lines. Although its martial forms were heavily influenced by the Central Plains, it possessed unique legacies of poison arts and venomous gu insects. In terms of deterrence against ordinary martial artists, its reputation was even more terrifying than that of the Snowy Regions Tantric Sect.
These two formidable sects sat on the frontiers, rife with intricate internal factions, and neither enjoyed good relations with the Central Plains martial world. Yet while some factions within the Five Poisons Sect might still listen to reason, the Snowy Regions Tantric Sect showed no regard for reason whatsoever.
It was not that the Snowy Regions Tantric Sect lacked eminent monks; rather, the true masters were dedicated to ascetic cultivation. Consequently, those who ventured into the Central Plains martial world were almost exclusively ill-intentioned scoundrels who either killed for sport or preyed on women to advance their arts.
To make matters worse, they invariably called themselves gurus, with words like compassion, merit, and the next life constantly on their lips—coming across as utterly sinister no matter how one looked at them.
Yet their techniques were indeed uncanny, possessing miraculous efficacy for prolonging life and invigorating vitality. Many of these gurus lived into their eighties, nineties, or even past a hundred, still capable of bedding multiple women in a single night.
For this very reason, more than a few Central Plains martial artists were willing to collude and deal with them, trading Central Plains martial arts for secret Tantric methods.
The orthodox sects of the Central Plains, however, viewed the Tantric Sect in the same light as the Demonic Cult. The Four Great Sword Sects of Chuanxi Circuit, Huichun Valley, the Snow Mountain Sect of Chuannan Circuit, the Gao family of Yunhai Villa, and others were all staunch enemies of the Snowy Regions Tantric Sect.
If Shangguan Tusu had indeed colluded with the Snowy Regions Tantric Sect and Old Valley Master Sun discovered it, that would certainly provide more than enough reason to silence him forever.
Now it was Zhao Shan's turn to gasp. "Could the person he met that night have been Yixi Duoji?"
Yixi Duoji was the grand sect master acknowledged by all the various branches of the Snowy Regions Tantric Sect. Standing as the southern counterpart to Huyan Chi in the north, he was hailed as an outland expert closest to a Great Grandmaster—some even claimed he had already attained that very realm.
If Shangguan Tusu had truly met Yixi Duoji that night, and Yixi Duoji was still in Qushui Prefecture, wouldn't investigating further be walking straight into the tiger's jaws?
"No," Leng Jiangzhu shook her head. "Yixi Duoji hasn't set foot in the Central Plains for twenty years."
Zhao Shan let out a breath of relief. "That's a relief."
"Judging by how Shangguan Tusu went to the meeting alone and had someone guiding his way, quite a few people on their side must know about this," Wang Yu mused, rubbing his chin. "As long as we catch one, our problem might be solved."
Sun Wenzhu's eyes lit up. "Exactly!"
"That's right, it's that foreign monk from the Snowy Regions!" someone at another table slammed the tabletop and declared. "And he's no longer in Sanbao or Shangxu County—he should already be in Qushui Prefecture!"
The onlookers gasped in surprise. "How do you know that?"
The man replied, "Because when I entered the city this morning, I happened to run into two distinguished disciples from the Yucang Sect. They pursued him all the way from Shangxu County!"
The Yucang Sect was located in Ningyuan Prefecture, just north of Qushui Prefecture. Qushui had no major sects or powerful experts of its own, so whenever trouble arose, people usually turned to the Yucang Sect or the Gao family of Cang'er Prefecture to the west for help.
"With disciples from the Yucang Sect stepping in, there's nothing to worry about," someone said with relief.
Leng Jiangzhu's gaze sharpened. "We can't let the Yucang Sect beat us to him!"
"But where should we even begin?"
Wang Yu scratched his head. Recalling how they had laid an ambush for Young Master Zhehua back in Puning County, he asked Leng Jiangzhu, "Do you know where the prominent families in Qushui Prefecture are located?"
Sun Wenzhu answered instead. "Qushui is a major prefectural seat of Chuannan. The city is teeming with martial clans, scholarly lineages, and wealthy merchants. It's simply impossible to stake them all out."
"Then we can only search the city," Leng Jiangzhu said.
In Qushui Prefecture, the four split into two pairs and wandered through the city streets.
Wang Yu walked with Zhao Shan, looking every bit like a wealthy young lord accompanied by an old servant. The sword in his hand, inlaid with eighteen bright pearls, resembled an ornate handicraft far more than a deadly weapon.
"Young Master, be careful you don't draw thieves before we even find that Tantric monk," Zhao Shan warned in a low voice.
Wang Yu countered with a question, "Uncle Shan, you're an experienced hand in the jianghu. Do you know where the local gang hideouts and branch halls are in Qushui? Could they help us track down that foreign monk?"
Zhao Shan nodded. "We could give it a try."
In novels, local street gangs and branch halls were portrayed as know-it-alls capable of anything—handling errands, tailing targets, tracking down people—so that no matter how deep one hid, their local informants would inevitably sniff them out.
Yet ever since Wang Yu first arrived and encountered Curly-haired Bear in Puning County, any illusions he had about such outfits had been thoroughly shattered.
Those people were merely bottom-feeders of the jianghu, scraping by on protection money. Unless someone literally walked right into them, how could they possibly notice anything out of the ordinary?
Curly-haired Bear had even fled overnight just out of fear of getting dragged into trouble!
Still, giving it a try wouldn't hurt; it was better than wandering blindly down the streets.
The two strolled down the main street while Zhao Shan looked around, scouting for a local gang stronghold. But before they could locate one, someone recognized them first.
"Young Master... Zhao?"
"Hm?"
Wang Yu turned back to see a graceful, middle-aged woman standing in the entrance of an ornate pavilion, looking at him as though utterly astonished to spot him here.
"Virtuoso Cai?"
The woman was none other than Cai Wuqi, whom Wang Yu had met once before in Daxing Prefecture.
Late last year, the Loulan treasure Wang Yu had dispatched toward the capital was hijacked en route. They had sent men to investigate Dulong Fortress while he went to Daxing Prefecture to await news.
With time on their hands in Daxing, Wei Gutong and his wife had taken them out sightseeing and dropped in on Cai Wuqi, a fellow zither virtuoso, who was thoroughly astounded by Wang Yu's musical talent.
Back then, Cai Wuqi had invited them to meet again before heading back to the northwest, but he had forgotten all about it—or rather, once Zhong Yulei's role was confirmed, he hadn't dared delay and had hurried straight home.
He never expected they would cross paths again in Qushui Prefecture.
Seeing Wang Yu respond, Cai Wuqi was genuinely surprised as well.
She knew who Wang Yu was: the Prince of Zhenxi of the Great Jin. Instead of remaining in the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor in Longshan, why had he traveled all the way to Chuannan Circuit with only an old servant?
Cai Wuqi also noticed Zhao Shan, recalling that the old man appeared to be an expert guard from the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor.
Seeing the two traveling light and incognito like a hidden dragon among fish, she gathered he was on a discreet private visit. Hence, Cai Wuqi addressed him only as Young Master Zhao rather than Prince Zhao.
"I truly didn't expect to run into Young Master Zhao in person," Cai Wuqi said with a smile.
Wang Yu nodded. "I'm in Chuannan Circuit on some business. I didn't expect to meet Virtuoso Cai here either."
Cai Wuqi explained, "A short while ago, the Prince of Zhennan celebrated his seventieth birthday and invited many fellow musicians to perform at the Prince of Zhennan's Manor. I received an invitation as well, so I came to offer my felicitations."
Wang Yu understood.
The realm had three regional princes: the Prince of Zhenxi, the Prince of Zhenbei, and the Prince of Zhennan.
Zhao Ling, the founder of the Prince of Zhenxi's lineage, had died young, but Prince of Zhenbei Zhang Junyi and Prince of Zhennan Wu Qiyuan remained alive and well.
Wu Qiyuan was the youngest of the three. When the new dynasty was established, he was not yet thirty. Having succeeded his late father on the battlefield, he later reached an agreement with the founding emperor to obey military mobilization without attending court summons, establishing the lineage of the Prince of Zhennan. Now, he already had third-generation grandchildren.
With four decades of accumulated prestige and influence, inviting celebrated masters from across the realm for a seventieth birthday was hardly extravagant for the Prince of Zhennan.
Even in Wang Yu's case, with the terrifying renown of annihilating the Black Qiang in a single battle, if he were to speak the word, celebrated artists across the land would surely scramble to attend.
"So you're on your way back, Virtuoso Cai?" Wang Yu asked.
"Indeed," Cai Wuqi nodded. "And I stopped by here to pay a visit to Virtuoso Yan."
As she spoke, footsteps sounded from behind her. A woman clad in a purple-cloud dress embroidered with golden butterflies stepped out from the pavilion, graceful in carriage and breathtaking in poise.
"Have you run into a friend, Sister Cai?" the woman asked.
Cai Wuqi smiled and introduced them to each other. "Young Master Zhao, this is Virtuoso Yan. Her skill on the zither is extraordinary, far surpassing my own."
She then turned to introduce him to the lady, "Sister, this gentleman's surname is Zhao. He possesses an astonishing innate musical ear. It was he who noticed the flaws in my piece, 'Splashing Jade Pearls,' and helped me refine it."
"Oh?" The woman looked toward Wang Yu, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. She curtsied gently. "This humble woman is Yan Chu. Greetings, Young Master Zhao."
Looking at Yan Chu, Wang Yu felt only that this exquisite beauty possessed an elegant, understated grace, with gentle, refined features. Though there was no smile on her face, she exuded a tranquil softness, looking as if she had stepped straight out of a painting.
"Greetings, Virtuoso Yan. I am Zhao Yu." Wang Yu cupped his hands.
"A chance encounter is better than a planned invitation. Since Young Master Zhao is Sister Cai's friend, please come inside and have a cup of tea," Yan Chu invited.
"Sister Cai, Sister Yan, who are you talking to?"
Just as a woman's voice rang out, the speaker appeared in the doorway—a tall, long-legged young woman radiating heroic spirit.
Cai Wuqi introduced her to Wang Yu as well. The girl was named Qu Lingbo, a native of Chuannan Circuit skilled at the flute. On their return journey, their music had harmonized, and finding each other kindred spirits, they had traveled together.
"You have an astonishing musical ear?" Qu Lingbo tilted her head, giving him a skeptical sideways glance. Her first impression of Wang Yu was far from favorable.
Wang Yu wore fine, luxurious silk robes and carried the Kangwei Sword encrusted with eighteen precious gems, looking every bit like an ostentatious, pampered scion of privilege. There was simply no way to see him as someone endowed with an extraordinary ear for music.
Qu Lingbo was very pretty, but that questioning look was anything but cordial.
Wang Yu wasn't about to indulge her attitude. Instead, turning even more flamboyant, he proclaimed brashly, "That's right. Not only is my musical ear astonishing, but my command of rhythm is second to none. In all the world, there aren't many whose musical mastery surpasses mine."
Wang Yu had swallowed who knew how many pills and elixirs, doping his way into the Xiantian realm in a single year. Aside from widening his meridians and boosting his natural talent, it had continuously elevated all his martial disciplines.
Among them, the Flowing Springs of the Icy Mountain inherently imparted musical artistry. Combined with the guidance he had received from Wei Gutong and Yan Ziyu over the New Year, Wang Yu truly had the gall to declare that "there aren't many whose musical mastery surpasses mine."
Qu Lingbo stared wide-eyed, not believing a single word.
She had met quite a few musical virtuosos in her time, but when had she ever seen one with an attitude like this?
Chapter 141