Love Across Ten Thousand Rivers and Mountains

Qiao Yi groped along the edge of the bed and sat down. Nian Shangyou hurried forward. "My lord, you are awake?" Qiao Yi's gaze was placid, his expression entirely normal. He waved a hand. "Everyone withdraw, save Shangyou." The attendants filed out one after another, leaving only Qiao Yi and Nian Shangyou in the room. Qiao Yi instructed, "Fetch some tea." Nian Shangyou quickly brought over a tea bowl, tested its temperature, and handed it to Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi felt around for a while, took the tea bowl, and sipped from it. Nian Shangyou extended his palm and waved it before Qiao Yi's eyes for a moment, confirming that Qiao Yi showed no reaction whatsoever. He was blind. Swirling the tea in his bowl, Qiao Yi asked Nian Shangyou, "Did you notice?" Nian Shangyou feigned surprise. "My lord, notice what? This subordinate does not understand." Qiao Yi sighed. "This matter stays between you and me. Not a word to the outside." Nian Shangyou continued playing dumb. "What matter is it, truly? Your subordinate honestly has no idea. Pray, my lord, make it clear." "Cut the act!" Qiao Yi splashed the tea outward. It did not hit Nian Shangyou, but Nian Shangyou wiped himself off symbolically anyway. Qiao Yi asked, "Do you know the cause behind this?" As of yet, he still did not know why he had gone blind. Nian Shangyou offered a cautious deduction: "Could it be that you were struck by Li Qi's curse?" Qiao Yi shook his head. "During our prior meeting, I took numerous precautions. There is absolutely no way I was hit by his curses." Nian Shangyou reminded him, "My lord previously signed covenant deeds with Li Qi—more than one, in fact. Could the deeds have handed down an adjudication?" Qiao Yi remembered signing covenant deeds with Li Banfeng. Under the terms of the two deeds, Qiao Yi was forbidden from harming Li Banfeng. "Could it truly be the work of the deeds?" Qiao Yi remained skeptical. "My lord, Li Qi's covenant deeds are extraordinary; you said so yourself." Qiao Yi had indeed mentioned that. Back when Ye Shengge attacked Li Qi with joyfire, fire had broken out on Qiao Yi's side as well. "I had never seen such covenant deeds before; they must have been refined by the Red Lotus," Qiao Yi said, setting down the tea bowl and carefully recalling the deeds' provisions. "I merely planted a hook. That shouldn't count as harming Li Qi. "And even if it were counted as harm, the deeds' adjudication shouldn't be this severe. Judging by what happened before, if Li Qi suffered an attack, I was to bear the exact same torment. When I planted a hook in him, transferring the hook onto my own body should have counted as sufficient punishment. Why would it demand both my eyes?" Nian Shangyou actually possessed some insight into such matters: "This subordinate once heard that the adjudication of a covenant deed is sometimes swayed by the intentions of both parties. Li Qi may have felt that this hook struck him a grievous blow, and in his fury, provoked the deed into handing down a harsh judgment." Qiao Yi said nothing. Nian Shangyou realized he might have spoken too much. After a long silence, Qiao Yi said to Nian Shangyou, "Shangyou, have you ever heard that the obligations of a covenant deed can be clarified?" Sensing trouble, Nian Shangyou shook his head repeatedly. After shaking for a moment, he remembered that Qiao Yi could not see, and quickly answered, "How does one define a clarification? Pray, my lord, instruct me." Qiao Yi said, "If one of the two parties unintentionally violates the covenant, so long as the other party offers a clarification, the adjudication can be revoked." Nian Shangyou urgently replied, "My lord must not put stock in such street rumors." Qiao Yi snapped, "This is something I experienced firsthand! How could it be street rumor?" Nian Shangyou lowered his head. "This subordinate is dull-witted. Pray do not blame me, my lord." Qiao Yi let out a long sigh. "Given the bond between us, how could I have the heart to blame you? Go find Li Qi and obtain a clarification. Consider it redeeming yourself through service." Nian Shangyou had known this would be the outcome, but he truly did not wish to face Li Qi. "My lord, this subordinate truly does not know how to handle such a clarification. Why not let me summon imperial physicians to treat you?" Qiao Yi looked displeased. "I just instructed you that this matter cannot leak outside. Did you take my words as wind past your ears?" Back then, Qiao Yi's claim of being heavily wounded had thrown the entire Shang State into panic. He had only just calmed everyone's hearts. If word spread that he had gone blind, not only would Shang State descend into chaos, but the peace accord recently settled with Tufang State would likely be overturned as well. Nian Shangyou tried to demur once more: "If you send me to seek a clarification from Li Qi, what if he refuses?" Qiao Yi knitted his brows. "You have followed me for so many years, yet you don't even know how to negotiate business? If he names a price, accept the terms first. Whether it works or not, return and discuss it with me." *** Nian Shangyou took an express boat and traveled straight to Boundless City. Luo Lijun treated him with utmost deference and promptly sent word inside. Nian Shangyou spent the wait pondering what to say upon seeing Li Qi, but his worries proved unnecessary. Li Qi did not see him at all; Luo Shaojun came out instead. Luo Shaojun's demeanor toward Nian Shangyou was entirely different. "Brother Qi doesn't wish to see you. Come back another day." Nian Shangyou said, "I truly have an urgent matter to discuss with the prince. Please, miss, pass word once more." No matter how Luo Shaojun tried to drive him away, Nian Shangyou waited by the door and refused to budge. From inside the room, Li Qi called out, "Go back and tell your master that a faithless traitor has no right to speak with me! He used that hook to harm me, and I will have my revenge!" Nian Shangyou shouted, "Your Highness, hear my explanation—" "Save your breath! Shaojun, help me back to my room to rest!" At Li Qi's summons, Luo Shaojun hurried into the room. *Clatter!* Nian Shangyou heard something shatter inside—not the sound of an object smashed in anger, but of something accidentally knocked over. *Clatter!* Another crash echoed. Puzzled, Nian Shangyou tried to peer into the room, but Luo Shaojun shut the door and had the attendants drive him away. Once Nian Shangyou had left Boundless City, Luo Shaojun asked, "Brother Qi, what was wrong with you just now? Why did you knock over both the tea bowl and the teapot?" Li Banfeng sighed. "Furious at him. That bastard betrayed our alliance, yet dares come seeking me." "Brother Qi, a breach of covenant can be clarified. Nian Shangyou probably came to see you for that." Luo Shaojun explained the principle of clarification to him. "Is that so?" This was the first time Li Banfeng had heard of clarification. "Then I reckon he'll have to make another trip." *** Nian Shangyou returned to Chaoge to deliver his report to Qiao Yi. "My lord, Li Qi refused to see me." "Why? He wouldn't even discuss terms? That doesn't sound like Li Qi's nature." "He said he despises us for breaking the alliance, and swore he would take revenge." Qiao Yi flew into a rage. "Just for planting a hook on him, I paid with a pair of eyes! Does that not count as revenge?" In his fury, Qiao Yi knocked over the vase on the table. Nian Shangyou froze for a moment, then set the vase back upright. "My lord, Li Qi was inside the room at the time. I couldn't see him, but I heard him knock over quite a few things as well." Qiao Yi paused. "Knocked over?" Nian Shangyou was absolutely certain. "That sound was definitely from bumping into things, not smashing them." Qiao Yi stood up and, supported by Nian Shangyou, paced back and forth across the room. "He stayed in the room and refused to come out. Was it that he didn't want to see you, or that he *couldn't* see you?" Nian Shangyou had also been contemplating that very thought. "This subordinate believes that if Li Qi truly held the upper hand, he would have demanded an exorbitant price. But now he didn't even dare name a price, which suggests he couldn't see me." Qiao Yi nodded, finding Nian Shangyou's reasoning sound. "His eyes were injured, and mine were injured too. That fits the disposition of the covenant deed. "He was harmed by someone. Who harmed him? Why did the deed pin that debt on my head?" Nian Shangyou asked, "My lord, could it be because Li Qi read that letter? Who wrote that letter to him? What was written inside?" Qiao Yi could not yet ascertain the sender's identity. As he pondered, an attendant arrived with a secret report. Nian Shangyou quickly helped Qiao Yi to the desk. Qiao Yi leaned over the writing table, brush poised in hand as though reviewing official documents. The courier presented the secret report. Qiao Yi did not reach for it, so Nian Shangyou accepted it on his behalf. Once the courier had left, Nian Shangyou presented the report to Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi felt the envelope, then lifted the inkstone, swinging it as if to smash Nian Shangyou over the head. Fortunately, he could not see; otherwise, he truly would have struck him. Nian Shangyou broke open the dispatch and read it aloud. The report came from Shu Wanjuan. Shu Wanjuan informed Qiao Yi that he had arrived at Daogui Ridge, but Critic maintained a tight guard, and he dared not make any rash moves for the moment. Qiao Yi sneered. "The Patriarch of Literary Cultivators goes to Daogui Ridge to scout, and he's cowering and tiptoeing? Write back to him: within three days, he must ascertain Critic's movements." Nian Shangyou quickly drafted the reply. "My lord, do I need to make another trip to Li Qi?" Qiao Yi shook his head. "We must seek him out, but there is no rush for the moment. In a little while, accompany me to Ninth Tier City. I want to enter the melting furnace." Nian Shangyou was astonished. "You truly intend to enter the melting furnace?!" Qiao Yi frowned. "Keep your voice down! I only need to replace a pair of eyes. Go make preparations, and let no one else find out." Nian Shangyou advised, "My lord, the melting furnace is perilous in the extreme. You must exercise the utmost caution." Qiao Yi nodded. "Going alone is indeed improper. You will come with me." Nian Shangyou wanted to slap himself, but held back. Deep down, he knew that whether Qiao Yi said it or not, he would have had to accompany him regardless. Nian Shangyou had tempered himself in the melting furnace more than once; he knew the path well and could keep his bearings inside. Since Qiao Yi was only replacing his eyes, he merely needed to traverse the perimeter of the lotus core without crawling into its holes. Yet even this process was treacherous. The vortexes around the lotus core were fierce; every single step had to land on a designated spot. Otherwise, if one tumbled into any of the lotus core's holes, who could say what form they would take upon emerging? Qiao Yi gripped Nian Shangyou's arm tightly, sweat streaming down his face. It was not just nervousness, but agony—the tempest of the lotus core felt as though it would tear the flesh from his bones. Nian Shangyou reminded him, "My lord, just follow me and keep only one thought in your mind: replacing a new pair of eyes. Under no circumstances think of anything else." After walking along the lotus core for half an hour, Qiao Yi's eyelids rolled back, and two eyeballs tumbled out of his sockets. Overwhelmed by excruciating pain, Qiao Yi slipped into unconsciousness. Nian Shangyou carried Qiao Yi away from the lotus core and returned to the manor. After lying there for several hours, Qiao Yi opened his eyes and saw Nian Shangyou. He could see. Two new eyeballs had grown within his sockets. Though slightly smaller than the sockets themselves, his vision was essentially restored. Invigorated, Qiao Yi sat up from the bed and said to Nian Shangyou, "Bring the critical documents; I shall review them one by one. Summon the new Minister of Works to see me; I want to inspect the progress on restoring the sacrificial altar." "My lord, do not rush." "Call all the envoys who visited Tufang State. I will question them individually and prepare questions to test them on the spot." "My lord, you should rest a while." "There is no time to rest! Bring the files of several newly appointed generals; a few still require further deliberation—" "My lord," Nian Shangyou interrupted once more, "you had better—" Qiao Yi flew into a rage. "Do I need your guidance to conduct my affairs?" *Drip!* A drop of fresh blood fell onto Qiao Yi's lapel. Qiao Yi's vision blurred. Nian Shangyou bowed his head. "My lord, your eyes are bleeding." Qiao Yi's vision went dark, and his heart plunged into darkness along with it. *** Inside the companion dwelling, Li Banfeng looked at the Red Lotus and asked with a chuckle, "A-Lian, have you ever seen the melting furnace of the Inner States?" "Never. That thing is in Chaoge's Ninth Tier City; catching a glimpse of it is far too difficult." "Yet I've heard that the melting furnace in Chaoge looks identical to you." "Such a coincidence exists? It's likely just baseless rumor, not to be trusted." "What if I saw it with my own eyes?" Li Banfeng truly had seen it with his own eyes—Banfeng Yin was also Li Banfeng, and from within Xi Zhaofu's shadow, he had witnessed the melting furnace blossom. The Red Lotus pondered for a moment. "Presumably someone from the Inner States saw me, realized I was extraordinary, and fashioned a replica furnace based on my appearance. "However, they failed to capture the essence. I do not devour living mortals, but I hear the Inner States' melting furnace eats everything." Li Banfeng said, "I'll take your word for it for now. You were made by the Heavenly Maiden; is the melting furnace also connected to her?" The Red Lotus laughed. "The Heavenly Maiden and I were indeed close, but I don't know where the rumor came from claiming she created me. Such a preposterous rumor, yet people in this world actually believe it." Li Banfeng glanced at Zhao Xiaowan. The Heavenly Maiden was the Red Lotus's master, and the Red Lotus was crafted by the Heavenly Maiden—this was practically common knowledge across Puluo Province. How could there be an unexpected twist here? Zhao Xiaowan asked, "If not the Heavenly Maiden, who created you then?" The Red Lotus's tone held a trace of disdain: "Why do you all assume I was 'created'? When heaven and earth first opened, "it poured torrential rain for three whole years. After the deluge subsided, a pond appeared upon the earth, and within that pond, a lotus blossom grew. "That lotus blossom was me." Li Banfeng scoffed. "What 'heaven and earth first opened'? I actually know how planets are formed." The Red Lotus said, "I'm not talking about planets! I'm talking about when the heaven and earth of Puluo Province first opened." Zhao Xiaowan doubted this account. "When heaven and earth first opened, was there a lotus seed? Without a lotus seed, where did the lotus blossom come from?" The Red Lotus spread its leaves. "That hits the crux of the matter! Without a lotus blossom, where did the lotus seed come from? No one can say whether the seed came first or the lotus blossom. That is why everyone calls me the Xuansheng Red Lotus." Li Banfeng nodded repeatedly, finding the Red Lotus's explanation plausible enough, though one problem remained: "A-Lian, that logic applies to eggs as well. Why is there no 'Xuansheng Egg'?" The Red Lotus took offense. "I spoke the truth, yet you refuse to believe me! Believe whatever you like; at any rate, I have never seen the melting furnace of the Inner States." On the wall of the main chamber, an image flickered into view: Nian Shangyou was pacing back and forth in the courtyard. He had returned to Boundless City to seek out Li Qi. Zhao Xiaowan said, "Husband, why not discuss a price with him?" Li Banfeng shook his head. "Anyone else, and I'd negotiate. But this man, I need to leave him out in the cold for two more days." Hong Ying asked, "Is there anything special about him?" "Nothing special about him, but his master is special. Qiao Yi has only just gone blind; the misery hasn't truly sunk in yet. I have to let him suffer for a few more days." Hong Ying immediately caught on: "A fine move, Seventh Brother! When I first went blind, I didn't care much either, treating it like resting with my eyes closed. But after a few days, I couldn't bear it anymore. In endless darkness, I was practically going mad. Back then, I thought to myself: whoever could restore my sight, I'd do anything for them! "However, Seventh Brother, don't drag it out too long. Once years pass and one gets used to it, the suffering dulls, and naming a price won't be so easy." Zhao Xiaowan cautioned Li Banfeng, "Husband, the Inner States' melting furnace possesses myriad methods; perhaps it can replace Qiao Yi's eyes. If Qiao Yi takes the gamble, wouldn't you end up losing more than you gain?" Li Banfeng had already thought through that possibility: "Replacing a pair of eyes probably isn't too difficult, but replacing the eyes doesn't remove the disease focus. In the end, he'll still end up blind. If he has the spine to replace his entire body, I'll admit he has some guts." *** Unable to see Li Qi, Nian Shangyou returned to Chaoge and pitched an idea to Qiao Yi: "My lord, why not enter the melting furnace once more?" Qiao Yi asked, "What use is entering the furnace again? If I replace my eyes a second time, can you guarantee there will be no recurrence?" "If replacing the eyes doesn't work, simply replace the whole body!" Qiao Yi hurled his writing brush at Nian Shangyou. Blind as he was, the brush missed, splattering ink across Nian Shangyou's face before landing on a pile of documents. No matter how furious Qiao Yi was, his foremost priority was always state affairs. Hearing the rustle, he urgently asked, "Which document was soiled?" Nian Shangyou inspected them. "Only one urgent document: the secret report sent by Shu Wanjuan." Qiao Yi had not read this dispatch yet. Nian Shangyou read it aloud. The core message was that Shu Wanjuan had contracted a disease focus and intended to depart Daogui Ridge. Qiao Yi was thoroughly displeased with Shu Wanjuan. Once one of Puluo Province's foremost combat powers, to end up in such a sorry state before a junior Disease Cultivator was truly disgraceful: "Doesn't he possess the Heavenly Harmony technique? He couldn't even ward off a disease focus?" Nian Shangyou did not know that Shu Wanjuan had been heavily wounded, and he too found Shu Wanjuan's conduct abnormal. But since Qiao Yi asked, he had to provide an explanation: "A disease focus is invisible and intangible. Once caught, unless the root is thoroughly eradicated, recurrence is always possible. That Marquis Shu fell into a trap on Daogui Ridge is within reason." "A disease focus?" Qiao Yi seemed to grasp something. "Could my eyes be afflicted by a disease focus as well?" Nian Shangyou thought it impossible: "Critic is far away on Daogui Ridge, Green Water City hasn't shown up around here, and you've never set foot in Puluo Province. How could you contract a disease focus?" Qiao Yi muttered, "Li Qi read that letter and injured his eyes. Through the covenant deed, it implicated me. "The letter bore Shan Chengjun's name. Shu Wanjuan refused to exert himself on Daogui Ridge. The disease focus came from Critic... Across ten thousand rivers and mountains, there is collusion!" The clues were many, but for now they could not be pieced together. Qiao Yi had Nian Shangyou issue an order to Shu Wanjuan: "Within three days, Critic must be captured alive!" *** Shu Wanjuan hid inside a cottage, watching characters emerge one by one on his palm. Previously, the order was to ascertain Critic's movements within three days; now, it had become capturing Critic alive. *Whoosh—* From outside the cottage came the snarls of daolao ghosts; they had already surrounded the village. Once they found this cottage, it would be too late for anything. While there was still time, retreat! *** Green Water City, Border Defense Headquarters. Liao Zihui extended his left hand, swayed his waist to the left, flashed an alluring smile, and sang while shimmying: "Unfearing of fierce gales blowing away deep passion, Across ten thousand rivers and mountains, love endures~" His vocal delivery was quite good, and his dancing was graceful enough. The only issue was that the thickest part of his body was his waist, and the part he wiggled the most was also his waist. As he swayed, Liao Zihui nodded to the spectator beside him. Spectator? Where had a spectator come from? Liao Zihui turned his head again to see Li Banfeng holding a feather duster, swaying right alongside him. "Brother Li Qi, you didn't even say hello when you came in! Gave me quite a fright." Liao Zihui stopped dancing and smoothed his robes. Li Banfeng had not yet had his fill: "Don't stop! Keep singing. That's quite a figure you've got. When you retire, I'll find you a gig at Xiaoyaowu. The Inspector General of Border Defense performing on stage would probably draw bigger crowds than Jiang Mengting." "I'll hold you to that! After I retire, I'll perform at Xiaoyaowu every single day." Liao Zihui ushered Li Banfeng over to sit on the sofa. "Brother, what brings you here?" "First tell me, what has you so overjoyed?" Liao Zihui said, "The peace negotiations between Tufang and Shang have succeeded." Concluded so quickly? "What were Tufang's conditions for peace?" Qiao Yi was a shrewd merchant; Li Banfeng knew he must have made a killing on this deal. Liao Zihui shook his head: "That, I don't know. The details are kept under tight wraps. But regardless of the terms, the fighting has stopped. Puluo Province is peaceful, the Outer States are peaceful—how could I not be happy?" "That's not necessarily true," Li Banfeng said, feeling that Liao Zihui was celebrating too early. "Now that the two of them aren't fighting each other, why couldn't they free up hands to attack Puluo Province?" "Impossible!" Liao Zihui produced four tea bowls. "These two are Shang and Tufang; they border each other. These two are Huan Country and Puluo Province; they border each other as well. "Tufang has been defeated; they certainly lack the strength to fight anymore. "If Shang tries to invade, Huan Country and Puluo Province will fight them to the death, while Tufang waits on the side for revenge. "Do you think Shang would dare attack? "I estimate nothing will happen for the next few years. In a few more years, I'll be retired. Puluo Province is so vast; I'll find a quiet place to live out my days in peace." Li Banfeng offered no evaluation. What Liao Zihui described was conventional logic, but conventional logic did not always hold true. "Brother Liao, I want your help finding someone. Do you know where Mister Kongfang is?" Liao Zihui's smile vanished. "Old Qi, you've already taken over his underground city; leave well enough alone. Mister Kongfang is a grandmaster of his generation. Bound by the peddler's restraint, he sometimes dares not exert his full strength. You shouldn't cling to him and insist on driving him to extermination." Despite spending every day in the Border Defense Office, Liao Zihui knew quite a lot about events great and small across Puluo Province. Li Banfeng said, "I'm looking for Mister Kongfang to make peace." "Is that so?" Liao Zihui did not believe him. "Brother, I truly don't know where Mister Kongfang is. I really can't help you with this." "Then do you know Mu Yuejuan's whereabouts?" Liao Zihui hesitated for a moment. If he claimed not to know again, Li Qi likely would not leave. He opened a bookcase, pulled out a row of books, and retrieved a scroll from a hidden compartment. "This painting was a special gift from Mu Yuejuan. There is a thirty percent chance of finding Mu Yuejuan herself, a thirty percent chance of finding a beauty painted by Mu Yuejuan, a thirty percent chance of seeing no one at all and coming right back out after a look around, and a ten percent chance of being trapped inside the painting forever. Take it and test your luck." Li Banfeng took the painting, returned to Xiaoyaowu, hung it on the wall, and called out Banfeng Yi: "Go on." It was a meticulous gongbi landscape painting, with strong perspective and a highly realistic style. Banfeng Yi stood before the scroll for a moment. "You think I can find Mu Yuejuan?" Li Banfeng was thoroughly optimistic: "Finding her is pure profit. If you don't find her, just come back and we'll try a few more times. If we really can't find her, I'll go to Qiqiu City and burn down Mister Kongfang's house." Mister Kongfang had a cloud in the sky that could be seen clearly from Qiqiu City. Li Banfeng had once used the Cloud Ladder technique to visit it with his wife. Banfeng Yi was still somewhat worried: "What if I can't come back?" "A ten percent chance—how could you be so unlucky? Hurry up and go!" Banfeng Yi entered the scroll, and an hour later, he emerged: "Go burn down the house in Qiqiu City!" "What's the rush to burn houses? If you didn't find her, no matter; at least try once more." "No need to try. I already found Mu Yuejuan. She's right in Mister Kongfang's home—the home above the clouds." *** In Chaoge's Sixth Tier City, Qiao Yi stroked the medicine bottle on the table and asked Nian Shangyou, "This is the Peeping Cultivator powder?" Nian Shangyou corrected him: "This cannot be called Peeping Cultivator powder. This is an Outer State primer, called 'Watcher'!" This bottle of medicine had been formulated by Shang State itself, using a recipe provided by Tufang State. Tufang State had provided recipes for twenty kinds of dark-energy user primers. This was a condition Qiao Yi had proposed during the peace talks, and Tufang State had agreed. Qiao Yi truly did not wish to choose Watcher. He wanted to become a Literary Cultivator, having previously studied some techniques close to Literary Cultivation. Yet now his eyes were impaired, and he could not avoid seeing people indefinitely. To steady the government, he could only temporarily rely on the techniques of a Watcher to hold things together. Qiao Yi gritted his teeth, picked up the liquid medicine, and drank it down. After lying in bed to rest for a moment, Qiao Yi asked Nian Shangyou, "Still no word from Li Qi?" Nian Shangyou said, "I heard from the Luo sisters that he returned to Puluo Province. You know the rules of Puluo Province, my lord; it wasn't appropriate for me to pursue the matter further." "Then let Chu Shaoqiang go inquire. Has there been a reply from Shu Wanjuan?" "I just asked; he said he is powerless." "Order him to return to Chaoge immediately. He owes me an explanation for what happened at Daogui Ridge! "Have the dispensary step up medicine production, and hasten the training of the Bandit Suppression Battalion." PS: This Bandit Suppression Battalion will likely possess no small combat power.