The stars filled the sky. At the top of the mountain stood a tall building, with a single lantern and a table of wine. The atmosphere was quiet and elegant. Li Chenghu and Zhao Dengzi sat there, drinking wine and watching the stars.
As the host and guest raised their cups again, Sun Ping came up to the building and bowed to Li Chenghu.
“Your Highness, the Princess Consort said it is already late, and she does not wish to disturb your enjoyment with Sect Master Zhao, so she has gone back to rest first.”
Previously, Tie Miaoqing had left from here to visit Yu Qing.
This table of wine had been arranged precisely because of that matter. Li Chenghu had casually mentioned it during the meal, and Zhao Dengzi immediately arranged for Zhan Yunqi to handle it.
From beginning to end, the only people on Kunling Mountain who knew that Tie Miaoqing had gone to secretly meet a man late at night were Zhao Dengzi and Zhan Yunqi.
Li Chenghu nodded.
“There is nothing else for you to do here. Go and attend to the Princess Consort.”
“Yes.”
Sun Ping acknowledged the order, then bowed slightly to Zhao Dengzi before turning around and leaving.
The doubts in Zhao Dengzi’s heart had never truly stopped. After raising his cup with Li Chenghu once more, he finally could not resist asking,
“Your Highness, is that Zhang Zhichen really just an ordinary disciple of Longguang Sect?”
Li Chenghu smiled.
“Whatever his background is, could it really escape Sect Master Zhao’s eyes?”
Zhao Dengzi shook his head.
“I truly do not understand.”
Li Chenghu gave an “oh” sound.
“From your tone, it seems you had already sensed that his identity was suspicious. Kunling Mountain organised this tournament, and after discovering that a participant’s identity was unusual, could you really not investigate further?”
“We originally intended to investigate thoroughly.”
At this point, Zhao Dengzi hesitated for a moment before speaking honestly.
“However, we discovered that Grand Executive Xiang was paying attention to this person. We did not know whether it was related to the Directorate, so Kunling Mountain did not wish to pursue it too much. We decided to see what Grand Executive Xiang would say in the end.”
Hearing this, Li Chenghu could not help laughing.
“The reason Grand Executive Xiang was beaten was probably because she paid too much attention to this person. Speaking logically, Sect Master Zhao should have already heard of this Zhang Zhichen’s name.”
Zhao Dengzi looked surprised.
“There are not many young people who can make this old man admire them. Please enlighten me, Your Highness.”
Li Chenghu did not hide it and simply reminded him.
“Champion of all four examinations, ranked third on the imperial list.”
“Eh…”
Zhao Dengzi froze. His eyes flickered for a while before he finally confirmed his thoughts. He asked in disbelief,
“Could it be that the person who entered Xiaoyunjian was the Top Scholar?”
Li Chenghu smiled without answering and raised his cup towards him.
Zhao Dengzi quickly raised his own cup in response. After drinking, he personally refilled the distinguished guest’s cup, already full of amazement.
“So it was him. I never imagined that this Top Scholar would already possess the ability to compete for first place in the Chaoyang Tournament. It seems the talent of the greatest scholar under heaven truly is extraordinary.”
He finally understood why Long Xingyun and Yu Qing had become entangled with each other. They were actually old enemies.
He also finally understood why the Princess Consort had visited a man late at night. They were old acquaintances.
He had naturally heard rumours about the relationship between the Princess Consort and the Top Scholar, so he was naturally surprised by Li Chenghu’s arrangement tonight.
However, he could not ask about such matters directly. He could only ask about what he was allowed to ask.
“Your Highness, this matter is extremely strange. How did Longguang Sect help him enter the Chaoyang Tournament?”
Li Chenghu chuckled.
“Not many people can make Longguang Sect give them such consideration. Unless they had encountered an unavoidable favour, they would not do such a thing. Given the Top Scholar’s background, I suspect he must have some connection with someone from the Jin Kingdom.”
Zhao Dengzi immediately frowned and fell into deep thought. A moment later, he suddenly understood, as though he had found the answer.
He proactively raised his cup.
“Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness.”
Li Chenghu raised his cup and drank with him.
While pouring more wine, Zhao Dengzi said unhappily,
“Longguang Sect has gone too far. They knew this was a grand event hosted by Kunling Mountain, yet they secretly interfered without even informing us.”
Li Chenghu said,
“Longguang Sect disciples are scattered throughout both Yin Kingdom and Jin Kingdom. Some even serve under me, yet they have never caused such trouble. Why not let this matter go and consider it giving me some face?”
Zhao Dengzi replied,
“Since Your Highness has said so, we will naturally comply. However, what should we do about this Top Scholar? He appears very likely to win first place.”
Li Chenghu said,
“Wouldn’t it be better if he won first place? Since the Princess Consort has gone to see him, he naturally knows that his identity has been exposed.
“Sect Master Zhao, our personal friendship is one matter, but official affairs cannot be delayed. The cultivation resources of the army’s cultivators cannot be lacking. Those insignificant taxes collected from ordinary people are not even enough to fill the gaps between their teeth.
“My own resources have always been stretched thin. As I have said before, since the army has been sent here, they have come to accomplish something. They cannot return empty handed. They must take supplies back. The seven hundred million worth of spirit rice cannot be missing.
“Otherwise, if the army surrounding this place rebels, I cannot guarantee what they might do.”
Zhao Dengzi remained silent.
This had already been agreed upon.
After Zhong Ruocheng won first place, the five hundred million reward would directly go to the Yin Kingdom court as military funding. Kunling Mountain would then provide another two hundred million to exchange for the presence of the distinguished guests.
To reduce losses, Kunling Mountain later suggested directly supplying the court with the corresponding amount of spirit rice at market value.
Of course, the condition was that the five hundred million could not be taken by anyone other than Zhong Ruocheng.
But Li Chenghu’s meaning now had clearly changed somewhat. He wanted to shift all the risk onto Kunling Mountain.
Sect Master Zhao could neither agree easily nor openly refuse.
Indeed, Kunling Mountain could afford the loss of five hundred million. However, five hundred million was not a small amount that could simply be thrown away.
Outsiders only knew that the world’s greatest spirit plant sect was wealthy, but they did not know how enormous the expenses of the world’s greatest spirit plant sect actually were.
Thus, the elegant evening of drinking wine and watching stars ended in an ambiguous manner.
With a heavy heart, Sect Master Zhao had only just returned outside the main hall when a figure approached and bowed.
“Sect Master.”
The person who came was none other than Qin Fujun.
Zhao Dengzi nodded, walked into the hall, stood there, and asked,
“You came so late. What happened?”
Qin Fujun answered seriously,
“I discovered new clues regarding Zhang Zhichen and need the sect’s strength to help investigate.”
Having already learned Zhang Zhichen’s true identity, Zhao Dengzi asked in confusion,
“What new clues?”
Qin Fujun said,
“Today after the competition ended, I saw Silver Guard, one of Scarlet Orchid Pavilion’s four great protectors. With his status, he actually went out of his way to approach Zhang Zhichen and speak with him.
“Also, that Cheng Long has an unusual relationship with Silver Guard. There is something suspicious here. Perhaps we can find clues from those two.”
Zhao Dengzi stared at her speechlessly.
He had thought she had discovered something important.
It turned out to be this.
He no longer wanted to investigate Zhang Zhichen. What worried him now was whether Zhang Zhichen would be able to receive the five hundred million reward.
He raised his hand and stopped her.
“The secret investigation into Zhang Zhichen can stop here. From now on, do not investigate any further. Stop.”
Qin Fujun widened her eyes.
She had discovered new clues and even kept them hidden from her master. She had waited here for the sect master to return, thinking she would receive his support.
Instead, she received an unexpected blow.
She immediately cupped her hands.
“Please explain, Sect Master. Why exactly? Is it only because he may win first place?”
The change in the sect master’s attitude was simply too great.
Previously, he had encouraged her to continue investigating.
Now, he was suddenly ordering her to stop.
How could she accept this?
Zhao Dengzi originally did not want to explain much, but he also knew his sudden change of position was difficult to justify. After thinking for a moment, he slowly said,
“The possibility of him winning first place is only one reason. The most important reason is that even if we discover that the matter involving the Meteor Hall was his doing, our Kunling Mountain may still have to let it go. This person has a powerful background.”
Qin Fujun immediately realised something.
“Sect Master, you know his true identity?”
Zhao Dengzi said,
“You should have heard of him before. Champion of all four examinations, ranked third on the imperial list.”
Qin Fujun’s eyes widened again.
“Ah Shi Heng?”
Zhao Dengzi nodded, then glanced outside the hall and gestured for her to lower her voice.
“How is that possible? I heard that the Top Scholar was elegant, handsome, and refined. How could he possibly be this shameless little man with a moustache? The person who wrote ‘When fortune arrives, purple energy moves mountains and rivers, after studying all one’s life, the red of the river shines’ should possess such extraordinary spirit and dignity. How could he possibly do something so secretive? Sect Master, are you mistaken?”
Qin Fujun’s words came out rapidly, her face filled with disbelief and unwillingness to accept reality.
Zhao Dengzi raised his hand again to stop her.
“Do not rush. There is still no evidence proving that he did it. How can you say he acted secretly? Also, there is absolutely no mistake. He is indeed the Top Scholar you mentioned.”
“I…”
Qin Fujun suddenly did not know what to say.
Zhao Dengzi sighed.
“Give up. Even Longguang Sect has become involved. Behind this Top Scholar, it is very likely that the Xuan Duke of Jin Kingdom is supporting him.
“That Xuan Duke has a complicated background and is even more troublesome than the Prince before us. He is someone who dares to oppose the Earth Mother. Offending him would not be wise. In the future, our Kunling Mountain’s business in the Nether Sea may also be affected.
“Junior Sister, there are many other spirit plant sects waiting to replace us. If we truly discover that the Top Scholar was responsible, we will only put ourselves in an embarrassing position. Do you understand?
“Besides, everything is only your speculation. At present, there is no evidence proving he was responsible.”
Qin Fujun stood there blankly, distracted, while the sect master’s explanations continued echoing in her ears.
Afterwards, she barely remembered how she returned to her residence.
Back in her room, she stared blankly at a piece of calligraphy hanging on the wall.
Displaying famous people’s words in one’s home to appear cultured was common everywhere. She was no exception.
The words on the wall were the same phrase she had mentioned before:
“When fortune arrives, purple energy moves mountains and rivers, after studying all one’s life, the red of the river shines.”
The handwriting was graceful because she herself had written it.
She had wanted to find the original work of the person who wrote those words. Unfortunately, that person had abandoned literature for martial cultivation too completely. Very few authentic works remained in circulation, or perhaps they had been deliberately hidden by people unwilling to reveal them.
Those that existed were also not for sale.
She could only collect imitation copies.
She had even visited Miaoqing Hall in Youjiao Port and paid to see the immortal peach tree. Although she had already seen Kunling Mountain’s immortal peach tree long ago, she had unfortunately never met that legendary genius scholar.
Looking at the calligraphy before her, countless images appeared in her mind.
A sudden embrace between two people one night.
A muddy handprint on someone’s chest.
A shameless little moustached man laughing with her face to face.
A person with a single sword transforming into countless celestial figures attacking enemies in a magnificent display.
She could not believe that the person who wrote those words had actually already been by her side.
The next day, the challenge matches began again.
Standing on the stage, she scanned the contestants below several times, but she did not see the masked figure.
She now roughly understood why that person had worn a mask to participate.
Yu Qing had already asked Xu Yi to request leave from Kunling Mountain, using the excuse that he needed to recover from his injuries. No matter who registered a challenge against him, they were to be told to wait.
Originally, he had planned to appear.
After all, he knew today was the first three day deadline, and there was a very high chance that fighting would begin.
However, Tie Miaoqing’s appearance had extinguished his interest.
His identity had already been exposed.
If he went out again pretending nothing had happened, he felt as if he would just be a jumping monkey performing for others.
He no longer wished to perform for anyone.