The tiny capital of Cloud Rock Country was now filled everywhere with extraordinary people and strange talents, Mountain Immortals riding clouds and mist. It was truly a place where hidden dragons crouched and tigers lay in wait.
Add to that the dignitaries from various countries who had come here to join in this grand undertaking—generals, ministers, dukes, and high officials—and for a time, anyone on the streets who was an Outsider had status. Perhaps everyone assumed that nobody was easy to provoke? That was why things remained so calm? Even those Qi cultivators capable of summoning wind and rain seemed to have reached an unspoken agreement. They were remarkably restrained in both word and deed, living in peace with the common folk below the mountain. To this day, Cloud Rock Country's Ministry of Justice had not received a single dispute requiring its intervention. The officials of the Ministry of Rites and Court of State Ceremonial had even begun inventing new ways to claim credit before His Majesty in court.
A shabby little eatery tucked away in an alley specialized in grilled fish. Every table was already occupied.
The diners inside spoke at the tops of their voices, most of them discussing huge deals involving thousands or tens of thousands of taels of silver.
At the quietest table, they had ordered a grilled fish and several jin of the capital's specialty coix wine.
Earlier, the fellow who appeared to be footing the bill had specifically followed the waiter into the rear courtyard to select the fish. After picking through fat and lean ones, he finally said it was for four people and that the black carp they hauled up need not be too heavy.
He was hardly generous. One look showed that he did not have much money in his pockets,