"You're saying there's a problem with the batch of newlands the Shang State produced recently?" Zuo Anna verified the accuracy of the information with Daboynes once more.
Daboynes nodded. "That is an inference."
"What kind of problem, specifically?"
Daboynes shook his head. "I already told you, I don't know. I can only tell you that the amount of seed soil used for this batch of newlands was extraordinarily large, and Qiao Yi's stay in Bo City was longer than usual."
Zuo Anna did not know how to evaluate intelligence like this. "All you saw was an anomaly, and from that you drew an inference with no tangible results. I don't know how much value information like this can possibly have."
Daboynes had no intention of explaining himself, nor did he intend to extrapolate from what he knew. "All I need to do is pass along what I know to you. How much value it has is for you to judge."
Zuo Anna compiled the recent reports she had received and passed them along to He Jiaqing.
He Jiaqing was quite intrigued by the information Daboynes provided. "Though the details are limited, my gut tells me something big is brewing. Any news from Wenyuan Pavilion?"
Zuo Anna said, "Chaoge has tightened security around Wenyuan Pavilion. The guards are triple their usual number."
He Jiaqing offered his first deduction: "That proves the covenant deeds are still hidden inside Wenyuan Pavilion. For some reason, they cannot be moved out of there. By the way... have you settled on a price? Please finalize your roster of personnel; it's time for me to draft an operational plan."
Zuo Anna sensed he had stopped short. "Do you have other inferences?"
He Jiaqing shook his head. "Not yet. I'll look into the newlands. But until I have results, don't breathe a word of this to anyone else, lest we startle the snake in the grass."
The two discussed a few more matters before He Jiaqing rose to take his leave. As he reached the door, he urged her once again, "Whatever you do, do not tell anyone else about this."
Zuo Anna had initially trusted her own instincts, believing the news from Daboynes held little value. But hearing He Jiaqing say this, she began to doubt herself.
Could a major crisis truly be coming without her noticing?
At the very least, she had to tell Critic.
Up on Daogui Ridge, Critic was recording the behavioral changes among the daolao ghosts. They still held sacrificial rites every day.
They had even erected a statue of Li Qi, and every so often, they would choreograph new dance movements in his honor.
In contrast, the daolao ghosts loyal to Critic clearly lacked creative initiative. They carried out rituals in an utterly perfunctory manner, and their interactions with Critic were growing increasingly casual.
At breakfast, Critic complained that the porridge tasted terrible. The daolao ghost responsible for cooking threw down the ladle and walked off.
What kind of attitude was that?
Critic wrote in his journal: *This must be the difference between divinity and humanity. I still retain too much humanity.*
The quill suddenly trembled, and a streak of blood seeped onto its barrel.
Critic sniffed the scent of the blood, then wrote on the paper: "Sister, what do you need me for?"
The quill lifted from Critic's hand and began rapidly scribbling lines of text across the paper.
Zuo Anna relayed Daboynes's findings to Critic.
Critic read through it carefully, unable to understand what Zuo Anna was trying to get across.
An anomaly had appeared in the newlands—was it an anomaly in number, or an anomaly in personnel?
By telling him this, what kind of problem did she expect him to solve?
Critic exchanged a few more messages with Zuo Anna, but she provided no further useful information, merely warning him to be extra careful.
Critic wrote back on the paper: "I lack the ability to investigate newlands. Very few people in Puluo Province possess such capability. I will consider whether to seek help from others."
Setting down the quill, several names flashed through Critic's mind, only to be dismissed one by one.
Among the people he knew, aside from the peddler, no one seemed capable of investigating newlands.
***
Back in Green Water City, He Jiaqing summoned Shen Rongqing, Duan Shuqun, and Datou, instructing them to gather their people and investigate any newlands added to Puluo Province three days prior.
Duan Shuqun pondered this for a long while. "Jiaqing, this 'three days ago' isn't easy to calculate, is it?"
Datou saw no issue. "Isn't a timeframe of three days perfectly clear?"
Duan Shuqun explained, "Brother, you aren't familiar enough with Puluo Province. A newland from three days ago looks no different from one from thirty, fifty, or eighty days ago."
Datou looked completely blank, leaving it unclear whether he genuinely did not understand or was only playing dumb.
Shen Rongqing explained, "When a newland enters Puluo Province, it looks virtually identical during its first year—no grass, no trees, no beasts or birds. It's just a patch of wasteland. It's nearly impossible to tell when it was formed."
Datou disagreed. "When the Inner States creates a newland, they definitely appoint a local spirit. The newly appointed local spirit can tell where his territory lies, so there must be a way for us to tell too."
Duan Shuqun said, "They can tell their boundaries because they rely on the Inner States' intelligence network. If a plot of land pops up between two local spirits, they'll notice it right away, and once they do, they report it back to the Inner States."
Datou said, "Then we'll go ask the local spirits for information."
Duan Shuqun kept quiet, holding back words that might sour their camaraderie.
Shen Rongqing pulled no punches with Datou. "Who do you think you are? Why would a local spirit give you the time of day?"
Datou truly did not hold local spirits in high regard; after all, he had only recently become one himself.
He Jiaqing waved his hand, signaling them to stop arguing. "Hurry up and send people to investigate. Mobilize all our hands. And remember, maintain strict secrecy. Do not spread word of this."
Duan Shuqun stood speechless for a long moment, while Shen Rongqing left the office without an expression.
Once their men were assembled, Duan Shuqun asked Shen Rongqing, "How are we even supposed to do this job? We've called in this many people, yet we aren't allowed to let word leak out?"
Shen Rongqing shook her head. "I don't understand, and I don't care to understand. Let Datou handle it. Doesn't he claim to be capable?"
Datou certainly did not hold back. Taking the men of the Brotherhood Alliance himself, he headed straight for the newlands to dig for news.
Duan Shuqun had been right—there was no keeping this secret. Barely two days passed before word reached Ma the Fifth.
"He Jiaqing is poking around the newly formed newlands. What is he after?" Ma the Fifth sensed something amiss and wanted to inform Li Qi immediately, but Li Qi could not be reached.
Ma the Fifth discussed it with Feng Daiku. Thinking over past events, Feng Daiku said, "My guess is that He Jiaqing wants to steal covenant deeds again. This time, he's probably planning to move against newly appointed local spirits."
"Should we interfere?" Ma the Fifth hesitated.
Feng Daiku weighed the matter carefully. "If he's only scouting, we really shouldn't interfere. There are cultivators who constantly explore newlands, and everyone in Puluo Province relies on them to update maps. That isn't a bad thing, nor does it break any rules. Let's just keep waiting for word."
Two days later, news did arrive for Ma the Fifth—not from He Jiaqing, but delivered by an envoy from Critic.
"Critic says there's something strange about the newly formed newlands, and that it's tied to the Inner States. I think we have to tell Old Seven about this." Ma the Fifth grew increasingly convinced that the situation was far from simple.
Feng Daiku was also worried. "We still can't reach Li Qi. I'll keep an eye out for the peddler and find an opportunity to tell him."
Before they could find the peddler, Ma Junjiang arrived at their door first. "Fifth Brother, Dad told me to pass along a message. Our granduncle is back. He's now the local spirit of a newland and is inviting our whole family over to clear the land. If you still consider yourself a member of the Ma family, come home with me so we can see through the biggest event our family has ever had."
Ma the Fifth's granduncle, Ma Chenxing, had been a ninth-tier Martial Cultivator in his prime, and more than half of the Ma family's estate had been built by his hands. Ma Chenxing had no children of his own and passed the family property to Ma Chunting in his later years. Though technically uncle and nephew, Ma Chunting had always regarded Ma Chenxing as a father. To his mind, this was indeed the most monumental event in the family's history.
In Ma the Fifth's memory, Ma Chenxing had passed away from natural causes years ago. Could he have ascended to the tenth tier in the Inner States, just like Chu Shaoqiang?
Critic had mentioned an anomaly in the newlands—could it refer to Ma Chenxing's return?
Ma the Fifth did not agree to go. Ma Junjiang sighed. "Fifth Brother, I know you still hold a grudge against Dad. When you became a local spirit, Dad didn't lend much of a hand either. I'll explain things to Dad when I get back. It really isn't your fault."
Ma the Fifth told Ma Junjiang not to close the door completely. He wanted to use the opportunity to look into the full story.
Feng Daiku reminded him, "Junyang, before the peddler knows about this, don't you dare get involved."
***
Ma Chunting had ordered a custom side-fastening gown of deep cyan satin from the Yu Family Fabric Shop. It featured a three-layered "Three Treasures" collar stitched with fifty-three neat lines, while the robe was embroidered with delicate cloud patterns. The hem fell smoothly all the way to the tops of his shoes, cut so impeccably that from head to toe there was not the slightest constriction or trace of excess fabric. Any connoisseur would recognize it as the pinnacle of traditional tailoring in Puluo Province.
Straightening his robes and trimming his beard and hair neatly, Ma Chunting led his entire household out of the Ma estate.
Ma Junjiang stood by the gate, marveling inwardly at the sight. The old master's aura today truly carried the grand presence of the Ma family's patriarch from years past.
Ma Chunting waved his cane, signaling Ma Junjiang not to block his way. There were bound to be reporters waiting for an interview; Ma Chunting had already prepared a speech and intended to say a few words.
Ma Junjiang hastily stepped aside. Ma Chunting looked around for a long time, but saw not a single reporter.
He glared at Ma Junjiang. How had this been arranged?
It truly was not Ma Junjiang's fault. He had notified the press long in advance, but the newspapers simply had not sent anyone.
Ma Chunting was furious. "That wretch Junyang has truly picked a fight with me! Not only did he refuse to come himself, he even kept the newspapers from showing up! Our Ma family is opening up ten li of territory—a world-shaking feat! I refuse to believe there won't be a word about it in tomorrow's papers!"
Ma Junjiang dared not speak. In truth, Ma the Fifth had nothing to do with it. He had never told the press to stay away; the newspapers simply thought the story wasn't worth their time.
Ten or so years ago, reclaiming ten li of territory would have been front-page news. After all, even the combined might of the Lu and Chu families had failed back then.
Yet over the past year or so, Li Qi had moved against newlands time and again, making ten-li reclamations a routine occurrence. The major newspapers had no interest in drumming up excitement beforehand; they preferred to wait until the reclamation succeeded and print a brief note on the outcome.
Ma Chunting rode in his carriage, leading over a hundred people out toward the newland. Once they crossed into the territory, they performed the sacrificial rites, and a response arrived almost immediately.
That night, Ma Chenxing came to see Ma Chunting in person. "Chunting, are you still the one calling the shots in the family?"
Bowing low with his head ducked, Ma Chunting answered deferentially, "I am, though the Fifth's business has grown so vast that I can barely keep him in check anymore."
Ma Chenxing smiled. "I've heard about Junyang. Following Prince Pingyuan to accomplish such great deeds is an honor for our Ma family. Let him know another day that I miss him. It matters not if he doesn't want to help reclaim the land; just have him come see me."
Those words alone brought Ma Chunting to tears. "That brute Junyang has broken your heart, Uncle! Even if I have to tie him up, I'll drag him here to see you!"
Ma Chenxing shook his head. "Leave that aside for now. Prepare thoroughly for tomorrow's reclamation. Ten li of territory is no trivial matter. Much as I wish to look after my family, I cannot overstep the bounds and violate my duty as a servant of the court!"
Hearing this, Ma Chunting wiped away his tears, knelt on the ground, and knocked his head firmly against the floor. "Father, your grace toward me is as heavy as a mountain..."
Ma Chenxing stepped aside. "Child, you cannot kowtow to me."
Ma Chunting felt a twinge of embarrassment, remembering they were not biological father and son.
Yet Ma Chenxing's next words made his tears flow once more: "Child, this kowtow belongs to Chaoge! This immense grace is something our Ma family could never repay in a hundred lifetimes!"
Tears streaming down their faces, Ma Chenxing and Ma Chunting knelt together and knocked their heads repeatedly against the ground. When they rose, Ma Chenxing laid out two pressing matters:
First, he had already arranged a path forward for Ma Chunting. Once Ma Chunting advanced to the tenth tier, he could smoothly transition to Chaoge to continue his cultivation, where his path would certainly not be too arduous.
Second, the reclamation had to be stepped up. They needed more hands, with the goal of turning this newland into proper land within six months.
This was not something accomplished with empty words. Land reclamation required capital. Even back when Qiqiu City was opened, Ma the Fifth had felt the financial strain. If they truly intended to reclaim an entire newland, exhausting all of Ma Chunting's life savings might not even be enough.
Ma Chenxing offered a suggestion: "We'll lean on the ancestral estate to fund it first. If our funds run dry, we'll turn to Junyang for a way forward."
Having settled on a plan, the examination began the following day. Three days later, the ten li of land were successfully opened, and the news began to spread.
Shen Rongqing reported the matter to He Jiaqing. "Jiaqing, I think this is the newland we've been looking for. Ma Chenxing clearly arrived with a mission from the Inner States. He intends to use the Ma family's wealth to turn this newland into proper land."
He Jiaqing gave no assessment, saying only, "I read about it in the paper. Ignore Ma Chenxing and keep investigating the newlands."
Shen Rongqing was bewildered. "Investigate what?"
He Jiaqing frowned. "Investigate the newlands I told you to look for."
Shen Rongqing left, and by afternoon, Duan Shuqun came by as well. "Jiaqing, I think the matter with Ma Chenxing is solid. If you want his territory, just get rid of him. A man like him dying by your hand won't earn you any blame from the peddler."
He Jiaqing sighed. "Rongqing was foolish because she's experienced too little, but how can you be just as foolish? Does staking the entire Ma family truly suffice to turn a newland into proper land?"
Duan Shuqun calculated. "That depends on whether Ma the Fifth still counts as a Ma. If Ma the Fifth is willing to step in, their wealth would certainly be enough."
He Jiaqing grew impatient. "Wealth? This has nothing to do with money! If things were that simple, would Chu Shaoqiang's situation be as pathetic as it is now?
"Ma Chenxing can't pull this off, nor would the Inner States trust him with a major undertaking. He's just a decoy the Inner States sent out to draw fire. How could you fall for it? Get back to proper business!"
Duan Shuqun was full of indignation, but thinking it over, He Jiaqing was right. Ma Chenxing had made such a huge ruckus that no conspiracy could possibly be discerned from his actions.
What kind of scheme was the Inner States actually plotting?
***
While He Jiaqing continued his investigation of the newlands, Ma the Fifth kept inquiring after the peddler's whereabouts. After several days of waiting without any sign of the peddler, Feng Daiku brought news from Luo Lijun.
"Luo Lijun wants to see Li Qi. She said she must meet him today."
Ma the Fifth laughed in exasperation. "I want to see Old Seven too, but is he someone you can just summon on a whim? What does she want?"
"She said it has to be told to Li Qi face to face."
Ma the Fifth refused to buy it. "I'll go find her right now. Let's see if she'll talk or not."
Arriving at Qishuiyao, Luo Lijun remained stubborn at first, refusing to speak. Ma the Fifth had Feng Daiku bar the door and spent over two hours negotiating with her in private. Finally, Luo Lijun spoke: "Qiao Yi is inviting the new monarch back to Chaoge to take charge of the court."
Hearing this, Ma the Fifth was dumbfounded.
It wasn't panic—it was that he simply didn't understand. The new monarch of the Shang State had been installed by Li Banfeng. Ma the Fifth had only assisted from the sidelines and taken no part in the core affairs; he didn't even know where the new monarch was currently staying.
Qiao Yi was pressing hard, and Luo Lijun had to deliver an answer. But with Li Qi nowhere to be found, who could make the decision?
Only one person could: Qiu Zhiheng.
Ma the Fifth took Luo Lijun to Santoucha to find Qiu Zhiheng.
Qiu Zhiheng knew the full story and knew where the new monarch resided.
After hearing Ma the Fifth's account and learning that Li Qi could not be reached, Qiu Zhiheng made an immediate decision: "Tell Qiao Yi that the new monarch is currently on an imperial inspection tour and that it is not suitable to return to Chaoge at this time."
"Which means... a refusal?" Luo Lijun's expression turned sour.
"Yes, a refusal!" Qiu Zhiheng's expression was even darker than hers.
Letting Juanzi and the others go to Chaoge right now would mean either becoming Qiao Yi's puppets or throwing their lives away for nothing.
Faced with Qiu Zhiheng's unyielding stance, Luo Lijun had no way to persuade him and could only pass the reply along to Qiao Yi.
Qiao Yi had anticipated this result and answered Luo Lijun directly: If the new monarch would not return to Chaoge, that was fine—he would come to Santoucha in person to meet the monarch and deliver reports on affairs of state.
When Luo Lijun returned to Santoucha and reported this to Qiu Zhiheng, he found himself backed into a corner. He had no valid excuse left to brush him off. Qiao Yi's demand was perfectly justified; as a minister seeking an audience with the new monarch to report on governance, there was nothing improper about it.
"That old scoundrel is truly difficult to shake!" At his wit's end, Qiu Zhiheng summoned Tan Jinxiao and Luo Zhengnan to discuss a counterstrategy.
Luo Zhengnan had no ideas either. "How about this, Master Qiu: find a way to stall for time first. I'll try every day to reach Seventh Master. Once we find Seventh Master, we can deal with Qiao Yi."
Qiu Zhiheng said, "I'd like to stall too, but we need a suitable pretext."
"No pretext is going to work!" Tan Jinxiao snapped. "Listen to me, you two: you know far too little about the Inner States. This isn't something you can stall! That old bastard Qiao Yi says he's coming, which means he could show up at any moment—hell, he might be here tomorrow!"
Qiu Zhiheng frowned. "He wouldn't dare, surely? He is pure Inner States blood. If he dares set foot in Puluo Province without permission, he'd be violating the rules, and the peddler won't spare him."
Tan Jinxiao slapped his thigh. "Master Qiu is dead right—we can't spare him! Brother Luo, find a way to track down the peddler. Whatever it takes, get him here! Master Qiu, let's the two of us gather our men. Anyone who can fight steps up! If that bastard dares show his face, we make sure he doesn't walk out alive! If we can take him, we kill him ourselves; if we can't, we wait for the peddler to arrive and butcher him then!"
Qiu Zhiheng said nothing.
Luo Zhengnan said, "Master Tan, if we do that, we'll be burning all our bridges."
Tan Jinxiao gnashed his teeth. "So what if we burn them? Does some Inner States interloper deserve any face from us?"
Luo Zhengnan tried to soothe him. "Master Tan, let's not speak out of anger. The crux is that if Qiao Yi truly comes, he'll be flanked by top experts. We might not be able to take him."
Tan Jinxiao's voice grew louder with every word. "That's why I told you to find the peddler! I'm putting my life on the line today. We hold them off as long as we can, and once the peddler gets here, we rip every single one of their heads off—leave none behind!"
Unable to dissuade him, Luo Zhengnan turned to look at Qiu Zhiheng.
Tan Jinxiao looked at Qiu Zhiheng as well. In the end, he was the one who had to make the call.
Qiu Zhiheng thought it over for a long while before setting down their course of action: "Brother Luo, find the peddler as quickly as possible. This matter is of grave consequence; the peddler must be informed. In the meantime, we must keep trying to contact Old Seven. As long as we can stall, it's best to let Old Seven make the final decision.
"Master Tan makes a fair point as well; we might not be able to stall. If Qiao Yi arrives uninvited, we must be ready for a fight. First, have Juanzi put on a grand display, showing the full majesty of the new monarch to overawe Qiao Yi and his retinue. Then we set our ambush—if a fight breaks out, we must seize the initiative.
"Lightbulb also brought over an expert who is currently staying with Juanzi and the others. As long as our preparations are sound, this battle isn't necessarily unwinnable."
Tan Jinxiao grew thrilled, rubbing his hands together eagerly. "Now that's the proper way! Master Qiu, let me ask: what's the background of that expert?"
Qiu Zhiheng shook his head. "That senior was unwilling to reveal his identity, but according to Lightbulb, he's a recluse expert of unfathomable depth."
Tan Jinxiao felt a bit skeptical. "That Brother Lightbulb of ours is too handsome. People that good-looking don't always speak the honest truth."
Qiu Zhiheng could not set his mind at ease either. "I'll go pay that expert a visit, and check in on Juanzi and the others while I'm at it. If they fail to hold their ground when the time comes, things will get messy."
That afternoon, Qiu Zhiheng went to Juanzi's residence. Meeting Lightbulb, he asked about the senior first.
"The senior is in deep meditation right now. It isn't convenient for him to receive guests." As he spoke, Lightbulb lowered his head, his fair cheeks flushing bright red.
Looking at Lightbulb's demeanor, Qiu Zhiheng felt he didn't look like someone who would lie, so he decided not to disturb the senior for the moment.
He intended to see Juanzi first, but was stopped by Xiao Yeci.
"Brother Qiu, Juanzi and the others are sick, you know. They can't get out of bed, you know. It's better not to go see them, you know."
As she spoke, Xiao Yeci's face was also bright red, and she avoided meeting Qiu Zhiheng's eyes entirely.
Seeing how she was dodging and hedging, Qiu Zhiheng knew for certain that something was up!
Brushing past Xiao Yeci's attempts to stop him, he walked straight into Juanzi's room. He found Juanzi lying in bed, wrapped tightly in a quilt, her face drenched in sweat.
Not only was she sweating profusely, but Mengzi and Xiaoshan were also dripping with sweat.
Qiu Zhiheng stepped to the bedside and asked, "Juanzi, Miss Xiao said you fell ill. Have you seen a doctor? What kind of illness is it?"
Juanzi answered in a tiny voice, "It's a chill."
"A chill causes this much sweating?"
Xiaoshan answered, "It's cold sweat from weakness."
Qiu Zhiheng ran a medicine shop; he understood pharmacology and possessed some medical skill. Looking at their condition, nothing about it resembled a chill.
"What is really going on?" Qiu Zhiheng turned to Mengzi. Mengzi was an honest soul who was terrible at lying, so he turned his face away and said nothing.
The quilt was bulging awkwardly, as if something were concealed beneath it. Qiu Zhiheng's brow knitted, and he yanked the quilt off.
That single pull left Qiu Zhiheng utterly dumbfounded.
Three separate people were lying beneath the covers.
Mengzi stood up first, followed by Juanzi, and finally Xiaoshan.
Qiu Zhiheng pressed his lips together, then asked slowly, "How did you... split apart?"
Xiaoshan dared not speak, and Juanzi kept silent. Mengzi could not hold back any longer: "Brother Qiu, don't blame us! A couple of days ago, an expert showed up and kept telling us to practice Slip Cultivation every day. We didn't know what Slip Cultivation was, so we just followed along and practiced with him every day. As we practiced and practiced... the three of us slipped apart."
***
*PS: That senior is feeling quite ashamed right now, too!*
Chapter 710