His Body

Boundless City, Clarity Hall. After careful preparations, Luo Lijun arranged a meeting between Li Qi and Nian Shangyou. The meeting place had been chosen by Li Qi. Clarity Hall possessed a peculiar property: its structure shifted in response to changes in a person's emotional state. Nian Shangyou had arrived at the hall first. The crystal pillars, originally pure and translucent, quickly turned pitch black, reflecting the heavy burden weighing upon his heart. Once Li Banfeng stepped inside, the pillars around Nian Shangyou began to tremble. Li Banfeng had achieved his objective. He had no desire to hear Nian Shangyou beat around the bush. "Grand Scholar Nian, there's no need for polite pleasantries. If something's on your mind, say it plainly." Nian Shangyou carefully weighed his phrasing, putting Qiao Yi's intentions as tactfully as he could. "The Imperial Envoy is so utterly consumed by state affairs, forgetting to eat and sleep, toiling to the point of utter exhaustion in body and mind. Lord Qiao finds it intolerable to watch, and earnestly implores His Royal Highness to recall the Imperial Envoy so that he may rest for several days..." Li Banfeng tilted his ear and listened for a moment. "Did I hear that correctly? Qiao Yi actually feels sorry for Critic?" Nian Shangyou offered a smile. "We both serve His Majesty; naturally, there is camaraderie among colleagues." Li Banfeng stared at Nian Shangyou. "Is there really?" "There truly is..." Behind Nian Shangyou, the colored-glaze pillars began to tremble once more, proving he had just lied. Li Banfeng asked, "What happens if Critic refuses to leave?" "Well, he... he must ultimately obey His Majesty's decree." Li Banfeng asked, "And if His Majesty doesn't wish for him to return either, what then?" "Whether His Majesty wishes it or not depends entirely on Your Highness's wishes, does it not..." Nian Shangyou glanced at Li Banfeng. He wanted to read Li Qi's thoughts, to see how Clarity Hall would react. "Presumptuous!" Li Banfeng snapped in rebuke. "What His Majesty thinks is not something I can sway! Once I have sought instructions from His Majesty, I will send you word!" "Very well." Nian Shangyou dared not utter another word, immediately taking his leave. Behind Li Qi, Clarity Hall remained completely unchanged. Was it because Li Qi felt no ripple of emotion in his heart? Or could Clarity Hall simply not perceive Li Qi's thoughts? Clarity Hall was of an exceptionally high grade. Back when Nian Shangyou was still in the army, he had heard that Clarity Hall was equivalent to a first-class weapon imbued with Peep Cultivator properties. Even a first-class Peep weapon couldn't pry into Li Qi's mind? Nian Shangyou wiped the sweat from his forehead. If Qiao Yi hadn't pushed him so hard, he truly would never have wanted to face Li Qi. *** Li Banfeng headed to Yucui Tower, pondering Qiao Yi's motives. Back when the epidemic had raged fiercely and Chaoge was practically a living hell on earth, Qiao Yi hadn't made a move against Critic, nor had he intended to send Critic back. Now that the epidemic had passed, why was Qiao Yi in such a rush again? Had Critic developed a new pathogen? Li Banfeng produced the rope A'yi had fashioned, wondering whether he should tie Critic up and bring him back. If Critic truly had cultivated a new disease strain, what would be the consequences of retrieving him now? Would he bring his dreams back to Puluo Province at all costs? Li Banfeng glanced at Jiang Ling'er. "Madmen always act beyond all reason!" Jiang Ling'er nodded. Li Banfeng said, "I'll wait until I visit Chaoge in a few days to check on the situation before making a decision." *** Nian Shangyou returned to report. "Lord Qiao, Li Qi didn't say he would retrieve Critic, but he didn't refuse either. He said he would make a decision after seeking instructions from His Majesty." "What Majesty? He's nothing more than a puppet propped upon the imperial throne! What's the point of seeking instructions from him?" Qiao Yi picked up a brush and penned a letter. "Forward this to Shu Wanjuan." Nian Shangyou took the letter and glanced over it. "Lord Qiao, you want Shu Wanjuan to attack the Ink Fragrance Shop?" Qiao Yi nodded. "Since Li Qi refuses to heed advice, he must naturally be taught a lesson." Nian Shangyou did not quite understand. "Seizing the Ink Fragrance Shop counts as teaching Li Qi a lesson? Li Qi and the Ink Fragrance Shop don't seem to have much contact." Qiao Yi sighed, shaking his head. "Shangyou, you must dedicate more thought to statecraft. The Ink Fragrance Shop is one of the foundations of Puluo Province. Seventy percent of the province's scholars hail from there. If the Ink Fragrance Shop falls into the court's hands, we can use it to alter the cultural lineage of Puluo Province, and ultimately transform its popular customs. "The imperial court previously dispatched Ge Jun to seize the Ink Fragrance Shop, backed by He Caiyuan and Chu Shaoqiang. Every deployment was laid out properly, and victory should have been easily secured. Yet in the end, due to the interference of Green Water Bow, He Jiaqing, Li Qi, Critic, and others, the opportunity slipped away. By the time the peddler arrived at the shop, the entire effort collapsed one basket shy of a full mound. "The Ink Fragrance Shop shares an immense connection with Li Qi, and it is territory Puluo Province cannot afford to lose. Shu Wanjuan is its creator, the one most familiar with it. Having him handle this matter makes him the ideal choice." Nian Shangyou grumbled inwardly: *What do you mean by the ideal choice? Does Shu Wanjuan even listen to you anymore? Even if he obeys and seizes the Ink Fragrance Shop, he won't be able to hold it.* He had to make this clear to Qiao Yi now, lest the blame be dumped on his head later. "Lord Qiao, Shu Wanjuan has not been in contact with the imperial court for days." Qiao Yi understood what Nian Shangyou meant. "Shu Wanjuan rests on his laurels. Though he holds the title of marquis, he remains dissatisfied. I have already informed him in the letter that if he seizes the Ink Fragrance Shop, the court will surely bestow honors and rewards." *What kind of rewards would that be? Can such hollow words still fool Shu Wanjuan?* Nian Shangyou said again, "Lord Qiao, if Shu Wanjuan seizes the Ink Fragrance Shop, I fear the peddler will not tolerate him." Qiao Yi nodded. "I have long since prepared for that. Relay the directive to Shu Wanjuan first." Nian Shangyou returned to his manor and entered the secret chamber. Lifting a hidden compartment in the floor, he opened a steam valve by the bed, and an eight-foot-square pegboard rose from below. After carefully considering their positions, Nian Shangyou inserted ninety-nine candles into the board. He lit them one by one, then snuffed out twelve, leaving eighty-seven burning. Taking the letter Qiao Yi had given him, Nian Shangyou swept it across the candles with extreme speed. Once the letter caught fire, the paper ashes settled onto the board and vanished in the blink of an eye. *** On Blood Fang Mountain, Shu Wanjuan was discussing the thirteen newlands with Shan Chengjun. He had discovered that He Jiaqing was out clearing wasteland again. Shan Chengjun's perspective was rather simple. "He Jiaqing lost his covenant deed, Li Qi snatched it back, and then returned it to He Jiaqing." Shu Wanjuan shook his head. "From what I know, those two hold a grudge and have clashed repeatedly." Shan Chengjun waved a hand. "Second Great King, your vision is too narrow; you look at things purely on the surface. How are you going to rule the realm alongside me in the future? "Though Li Qi and He Jiaqing clash, they definitely collaborate in secret. Just like you and me—we used to fight all the time, and aren't we as close as sworn brothers now?" Shu Wanjuan offered no commentary on the sworn brothers comparison. This was Blood Fang Mountain; telling a lie would cause rocks to explode. Shu Wanjuan rolled two pebbles in his palm for several turns, shaking his head. "Such a precious deed is not something Li Qi would casually hand over to He Jiaqing. There must be something else at play." Shan Chengjun said, "How about we just go ask He Jiaqing?" Shu Wanjuan couldn't tell if Shan Chengjun was joking. "Asking him directly hardly seems appropriate." Shan Chengjun said in all seriousness, "If you think it's inappropriate, I'll ask for you. You don't need to worry. Look, your heart's smoking." Shu Wanjuan pulled a smoking yellow paper talisman from his chest, blew out the ember, and read the characters on it. After reading it, Shu Wanjuan sighed and shook his head. "To go back on one's word, to toy back and forth, exhausting every shred of sincere devotion." Shan Chengjun's face darkened. "What's exhausted? Speak plainly!" Shu Wanjuan handed the yellow paper to Shan Chengjun. Shan Chengjun looked it over and said in astonishment, "This is a good thing!" Shu Wanjuan frowned. "How is it a good thing?" "Didn't Qiao Yi write it? As long as we take the Ink Fragrance Shop, he will definitely bestow rewards." Shu Wanjuan carefully observed every stone around them. None of the rocks exploded, proving Shan Chengjun wasn't lying. He studied Shan Chengjun closely, completely unable to fathom the man's state of mind. "Old Shan, I thought you were a clear-headed person!" Shan Chengjun puffed out his chest. "I've always been plenty clear-headed." "Earlier, you said Qiao Yi was lying to me all along!" Shan Chengjun nodded. "He's lying to you now, too." Shu Wanjuan's eyes widened. "Then how can you tell me this is a good thing?" Shan Chengjun said, "He wants you to seize the Ink Fragrance Shop, which proves the Ink Fragrance Shop is useful and holds good stuff. If we get our hands on that good stuff, won't we have leverage to negotiate our price with him?" Shu Wanjuan lowered his head, brows furrowed. "Ge Jun went once before and lost his life. What kind of good stuff could the Ink Fragrance Shop possibly have?" Shan Chengjun slapped his thigh. "That's for you to tell! The Ink Fragrance Shop is your old stomping ground!" Shu Wanjuan rubbed his chin, thinking for a long time. "Could it be my grand-disciple's body?" Shan Chengjun froze. Calling the Blood Fang Monster over, he pulled it into his arms. "Old Shu, keep your grand-disciple's body to yourself. I have a wife; I don't crave that sort of thing." Shu Wanjuan rolled his eyes at Shan Chengjun. "What are you thinking? That is the body of the Wisdom-Karmic Scholar! A Wisdom-Karmic Scholar possesses the highest talent in my Daoist path." Hugging his wife, Shan Chengjun said, "I still don't crave it!" Shu Wanjuan frowned. "Neither do I!" *Bang!* A boulder on the mountainside shattered. Shan Chengjun gripped the Blood Fang Monster tighter and stepped back to put some distance between them. "Old Shu, I've always considered you a true brother, honestly." Shu Wanjuan shook his head. "It isn't him I crave—I crave a good disciple." Shan Chengjun warily checked the surrounding rocks. None of them blew up. "Look how you frightened me!" Shan Chengjun wiped away his sweat and let the Blood Fang Monster go. Shu Wanjuan asked, puzzled, "What were you afraid of?" Shan Chengjun shook his head. "I'm a martial artist; I don't understand your Daoist path. Who knows what you scholars are brooding over on normal days? "Besides, your disciple isn't half bad either. Zhou Badou is a ruthless character in his own right." Shu Wanjuan sighed. "If judged purely on natural talent, the Eight Dou Calligrapher is slightly inferior to the Wisdom-Karmic Scholar." Shan Chengjun sneered dismissively. "What use is talent? Talent is the last thing I trust." Shu Wanjuan said, "It is useful. If one obtains the body of the Wisdom-Karmic Scholar and fits a soul into it, another peerless talent is born." Shan Chengjun thought for a moment. "You mean using the Great Smelter to reinstall a soul? By that logic, Ai Yeqing's body could fetch a fine price too. But isn't the Great Smelter broken?" "What is broken can eventually be repaired." Shan Chengjun pondered for a long time, then shook his head. "No, it definitely isn't that simple. Think carefully again—what other treasures are there in the Ink Fragrance Shop?" Shu Wanjuan contemplated for a good while. "If there is another treasure, it must be the cultural lineage. The cultural lineage of Puluo Province resides in the Ink Fragrance Shop." Shan Chengjun's eyes lit up. "Why didn't you mention such good stuff earlier? Where's this cultural lineage hidden? Let's dig it up." Shu Wanjuan didn't know how to explain. "The cultural lineage isn't hidden anywhere. It refers to the Ink Fragrance Shop itself as a place. All the scholars of Puluo Province were nurtured by the Ink Fragrance Shop." Shan Chengjun waved a hand. "There you go with that useless drivel again. What on earth is a cultural lineage? Is there a martial lineage? How come I've never heard of one? "Regardless, the Ink Fragrance Shop definitely holds something good. If all else fails, we'll just ask the local spirit. Who's the local spirit of the Ink Fragrance Shop?" Shu Wanjuan let out a heavy sigh. "Aside from the peddler, you don't pay attention to anyone. The local spirit of the Ink Fragrance Shop is the Wisdom-Karmic Scholar." "Didn't you say only his body remains? Where's his soul?" "No one knows where his soul is." Shan Chengjun grinned. "So it's masterless land! That makes it simple. We take the territory—we won't have killed a local spirit, nor will we stir up any commotion. When the time comes, you can negotiate business with Qiao Yi!" Shu Wanjuan deliberated for a long time before taking out a sheet of yellow paper. "Shall I reply to him now?" Shan Chengjun nodded. "Reply right now. We strike tomorrow!" "Strike tomorrow?" Shu Wanjuan was taken aback. "Isn't that a bit rushed?" Shan Chengjun shook his head. "Delays breed trouble. Tomorrow is just right." *** Upon receiving the reply, Nian Shangyou hurried to report to Qiao Yi, surprised that Shu Wanjuan had actually agreed. Qiao Yi showed little astonishment. It was good that Shu Wanjuan agreed; had he refused, Qiao Yi would simply have sent someone else. Furthermore, Shu Wanjuan's consent was not unconditional. Though phrased tactfully, the letter plainly expressed anticipation for rewards: *"Though dull of wit, your servant toils from dawn till dusk, looking up to the Heavenly Countenance with yearning for advancement.* *Though my merits be slight, I dedicate all loyalty and wisdom, stroking modest deeds in hope of royal grace."* Qiao Yi let out a cold snort. "He puts it bluntly enough!" Nian Shangyou asked, "Lord Qiao, what title of nobility do you plan to grant Shu Wanjuan?" Qiao Yi glanced back at the letter. "Didn't he say he would strike tomorrow? We'll reply tomorrow." Nian Shangyou said nothing, but his mind was rife with grievances. If Qiao Yi failed to honor his word this time, he wouldn't even have the face to approach Shu Wanjuan again in the future. *** At Lu's Bookhouse, Li Banfeng was working with Boss Lu to design characters. With sales of *Mochunxuan* looking promising, Boss Lu had released another volume of new works. Many of the characters were designed rather rigidly, so Boss Lu had asked Li Qi to help make revisions. *Mochunxuan* dealt with the strange and supernatural. If the characters were all uniformly green-faced with fangs, readers would find it dull. Li Banfeng certainly hadn't read as many books as Boss Lu, and his diction was not as ornate, but he excelled at direct sketch portraits, using nuances of dialogue and action to bring characters to life. Boss Lu admired this deeply. "Vivid and lifelike between the lines—this is sheer natural gift." Li Banfeng shook his head. "Hardly a natural gift. I've simply received plenty of guidance." This was the truth; the Judge's Brush had indeed been instructing Li Banfeng constantly. It was also thanks to the Judge's Brush that Li Banfeng's skill in the Gold-Housed Beauty art had progressed tremendously. Boss Lu nodded slightly and asked abruptly, "Seventh Master, have you ever taken a disciple?" Li Banfeng raised his teacup and drained it in one gulp. "You jest. With my meager skill with a brush, how could I have the nerve to take disciples?" Boss Lu shook his head. "It isn't just about brushwork, but other arts as well. If you encountered a disciple endowed with extraordinary talent, would you impart everything you know without reservation?" Li Banfeng thought it over. "Perhaps..." Boss Lu continued, "If you met an exceptionally brilliant disciple, would you entrust him with great responsibilities?" Li Banfeng nodded. "That would be only natural." Boss Lu asked again, "If you met a disciple destined for great things, would you temper him thoroughly?" Li Banfeng pondered for a moment, then asked Boss Lu, "Tempering him purely, with no selfish motives whatsoever?" Boss Lu answered with agitation, "None whatsoever!" The Judge's Brush snapped back with agitation, "Bah!" Li Banfeng offered no comment, simply drinking another cup of tea. Boss Lu hadn't seen Li Qi refill his cup, yet the tea seemed endless. He assumed Li Qi's hands were simply too swift to catch. Boss Lu picked up the teapot to pour Li Banfeng another cup, only to find the pot was empty. "Seventh Master, please wait a moment. I'll brew a fresh pot for you." Just as Boss Lu found the situation strange, Li Banfeng's telephone suddenly rang. The call was from Pineapple. They had gathered intelligence in Chaoge: Critic had departed for Haozhou under the title of Imperial Envoy. Li Banfeng still doubted the authenticity of the report. The Great Sea was vast; could Critic's movements really be tracked so easily? Pineapple replied, "Seventh Master, this matter was easy to look into. After Critic left, the city of Chaoge was decked in lanterns and banners, celebrating for three full days!" Critic had gone off to plague Haozhou, and Qiao Yi had just let him go. Was it to weed out political rivals again? Or had he simply grasped at straws out of desperation just to drive Critic away? What was Qiao Yi really thinking? *** Nian Shangyou entered the study carrying a stack of documents. "Lord Qiao, these are all memorials submitted from Haozhou." "They all speak of the Imperial Envoy, do they not?" Qiao Yi casually flipped through a couple of pages. "Haozhou previously established a new cabinet and handled considerable governance. It is entirely reasonable for the Imperial Envoy to inspect their affairs. Just draft a few casual replies." This attitude made Nian Shangyou nervous. He worried the blame would eventually fall on him again. "Lord Qiao, if Critic goes to Haozhou, there's no telling how many lives will be lost." Qiao Yi looked up. "Then what do you suggest we do? Will you go persuade him back to Chaoge?" Nian Shangyou fell silent. Following Qiao Yi's orders, he replied to the documents one by one. By dusk the next day, Nian Shangyou yawned and dispatched all the documents. Haozhou sent no further memorials. The Imperial Envoy had already arrived. Those who could flee had fled, and those who couldn't were now utterly trapped. Judging the time to be right, Qiao Yi instructed Nian Shangyou to send a reply to Shu Wanjuan. "Tell him to seize the Ink Fragrance Shop within three days. If he succeeds, he shall be enfeoffed as the Commandery Prince of Jingshuo." *A prince! He's playing for real!* Nian Shangyou drafted the document. Qiao Yi reviewed it, made minor revisions, and immediately affixed his seal. Nian Shangyou took the document home, lit the candles, and transmitted it back to Shu Wanjuan. Lighting the candles was an encryption process. Shu Wanjuan possessed the ability to encrypt letters directly, but Nian Shangyou had to rely on instruments. *** Shu Wanjuan and Shan Chengjun were already waiting at the Ink Fragrance Shop. They had booked a private room in a teahouse, awaiting word. Over the course of the day, they drank several pots of tea without any letter arriving from Chaoge. Shu Wanjuan wanted to leave, but Shan Chengjun urged him to wait a bit longer. "If he doesn't name a price, we don't make a move. If he's not in a rush, what are you panicking for? Either way, we won't lose out." "I only fear Qiao Yi is toying with me again..." Smoke puffed from Shu Wanjuan's chest once more. Shan Chengjun beamed. "Quick! Take it out and let's see!" Shu Wanjuan opened the letter and looked it over. "He made me a prince." "What kind of prince?" Shan Chengjun read the letter and shook his head slightly. "Commandery Prince of Jingshuo. He only gave a title, not a fief!" Shu Wanjuan felt that if merely taking the Ink Fragrance Shop could earn the title of commandery prince, it was fair enough. Yet he knew Shan Chengjun would never agree, as there was nothing in it for him. Shan Chengjun raised a hand and burned the letter. "Second Great King, this won't do! We have to demand tangible benefits from him. Tell him to change Commandery Prince of Jingshuo to Imperial Prince of Jingshuo. Your status can't be lower than Li Qi's! "And you must demand a fiefdom—nothing small, either. I'm the Great King and you're the Second Great King; you have to factor my share into it!" Shu Wanjuan thought for a moment. "Where do you think is suitable for a fief? Should it be farther from Chaoge? If the territory is too large, Qiao Yi certainly won't grant it." Shan Chengjun had already planned ahead. "We don't want Shang territory. We want those thirteen newlands! He Jiaqing's deed was taken by Li Qi, but doesn't Chaoge still have a copy of the covenant deed? We'll demand that one." Shu Wanjuan felt it wouldn't be so easy. "I doubt Qiao Yi will give us that land." Shan Chengjun chuckled. "He won't give it? Once we grab the good stuff from the Ink Fragrance Shop, we won't want to hand it over to him either! Did you really think I came here to work for him? Who can outscheme whom depends on true ability!" Shu Wanjuan immediately penned a reply to Chaoge. Nian Shangyou delivered the reply to Qiao Yi, who agreed without hesitation. "Give him the deed to the thirteen newlands." "Give it to him?" Nian Shangyou was dumbfounded. Give what? "Lord Qiao, the covenant deed to those thirteen newlands was stolen. Have you forgotten?" Qiao Yi washed his brush. "When was it stolen?" "A long time ago." "Was it really that long ago?" "It has indeed been quite some time..." "Think again. Was it really that early?" Nian Shangyou caught Qiao Yi's meaning. Once Shu Wanjuan captured the Ink Fragrance Shop, they would simply inform him that the deed had been stolen. In the end, it was nothing more than an empty promise to catch a wolf with bare hands. Helpless, Nian Shangyou wrote the reply and was about to go home to send it, when Qiao Yi stopped him. "Shangyou, you've worked hard running back and forth. Leave this to me." Taking the letter, Qiao Yi held it directly to the candle on his desk and set it alight. Nian Shangyou was horrified! This meant the letter was sent completely unencrypted. Such letters were exceedingly easy to intercept. "Lord Qiao, that cannot be done...!" "No matter!" Qiao Yi flicked his wrist. The paper ashes scattered and vanished. Realizing things looked grim, Nian Shangyou quickly cautioned Qiao Yi, "If the peddler intercepts that letter, Shu Wanjuan is no match for him! Shouldn't we send reinforcements to the Ink Fragrance Shop?" Qiao Yi shook his head. "No reinforcements needed. It doesn't matter who intercepts it." *** In Tianyi City, a radio crackled with static. Ba Suan listened to the static, recorded its frequency, calculated briefly, and compiled it into a written message. "Brother!" Room Eight urgently called out to Pineapple. "Quick, send word to Seventh Master! Shu Wanjuan is going to seize the Ink Fragrance Shop!" *** Li Banfeng was currently writing with Zhang Xiuling. *Yuxiangji* also had several characters that needed refinement; over the past few days, his notebook had doubled in thickness. "Writing requires explaining profound matters in simple terms; you must make it clear to the reader..." Li Banfeng had just offered a few pointers when Pineapple's call came through. Upon learning that Qiao Yi was having Shu Wanjuan seize the Ink Fragrance Shop, Li Banfeng could not figure out the motive. Had he taken a fancy to that territory again? Ge Jun had lost his life there last time; had Qiao Yi forgotten such a bitter defeat so quickly? The Judge's Brush whispered, "Could he be after my body?" Li Banfeng paused. "Is your body really that good?" Zhang Xiuling couldn't hear the Judge's Brush, but she heard Li Qi's words clearly. Blushing, she said softly, "My body is quite nice..." Li Banfeng shook his head. "I wasn't talking about you, but the Hundred Flowers God." Zhang Xiuling gasped. "Seventh Master, you heard a divine oracle? What does the Hundred Flowers God command?" "The Hundred Flowers God commands you to stay home and write diligently." Leaving the Hundred Flowers Garden, Li Banfeng headed straight for the Ink Fragrance Shop. On the way, he asked the Judge's Brush, "Where is your body?" "There's a cloud in the Ink Fragrance Shop. I'll take you there." "Leaving it right on a cloud—aren't you worried someone will steal it?" "Ordinary people can't steal it. It's the highest and largest cloud in Puluo Province. My body rests atop the highest peak on that cloud, where you can gaze upon the entirety of Puluo Province. Only..." The Judge's Brush paused for a good while before finishing, "what if he doesn't want my body, but wants that land instead? What do we do then?" Li Banfeng said, "We'll check both places. If worse comes to worst, you take back your body and return to being the local spirit. That way the land is defended, and your body is protected too." "Then I'm not going!" The Judge's Brush huffed. "I'd rather abandon the body!"