Heaven's Rain Though Broad

A man and a woman turned into Mud Bottle Alley. The Young Man wore a high crown and a green pendant at his waist; compared with the descendants of the Lu clan, the town's richest family, he looked even more like a wealthy young master. The woman's age was hard to tell. At first glance, she looked like a Young Girl, with tender, dewy skin and a pointed chin like an icicle hanging from the eaves in winter. Yet on a second look, she possessed the charm of a woman in her thirties: phoenix eyes, a seductive figure, and a rakish elegance flowing from head to toe. As she walked, her waist swayed and twisted with a flavor the women of the small town did not possess.

The woman looked around curiously, even reaching out to touch the yellow mud walls. Unable to detect the slightest trace of anything unusual, she asked curiously, "Fu Nanhua, is this truly one of the hidden blessed lands you mentioned? Why had the Feng Shui Map your Old Ancestor provided not particularly marked this alley?"

The Young Man answered with a question of his own. "If you and I truly find an unexpected delight here, how will you repay me?"

Turning sideways, the woman interlaced her fingers behind her back, making the generous fullness of her chest even more pronounced. Half in jest and half in earnest, she smiled softly. "Take whatever you please. How about it?"

The Young Man had not expected her to be so blunt and was momentarily at a loss. Besides, he had come here to "visit relatives and seek friends," bearing the weight of his entire Lineage's prosperity and decline over the next hundred years, even its flourishing for a thousand. No matter how romantic he was, he would never dare have a fleeting affair with this woman under the "watchful eyes" of the small town.

So he quickly changed the subject. Pointing toward the depths of the alley, he said with a smile, "Fairy Cai, friends are friends, business is business. I must repeat our previous agreement: there are two households in this Mud Bottle Alley, one a master and servant, the other a mother and son. You may choose either one first. Your stake will be Cloud Root Stones, a specialty of your Cloud Mist Mountain—ten stones delivered to our Old Dragon City every year."

The woman nodded, her smile enchanting. "Of course."

The Young Man slowly walked onward and continued, "Next, should you obtain an opportunity here beyond your Lineage's expectations, the item must be appraised by the Patriarchs of both our sides, who will name a fair price. Then Cloud Mist Mountain must provide half that value in Cloud Root Stones. Cai Jinjian, do you have any objections? Or rather, can you ensure that after agreeing to this here and now, once the profit is in hand and safely in your pocket, you will still be able to persuade the Patriarchs of Cloud Mist Mountain to nod and recognize this wager?"

The woman's expression had already changed. Solemn and dignified, she was utterly different from before—like a courtesan fallen into the dust of the pleasure quarters who, with a turn of her hand, became an Empress who mothered the realm. Cai Jinjian of Cloud Mist Mountain answered decisively, "Yes!"

Fu Nanhua narrowed his eyes, his face darkening. He stopped and faced the woman, who was no shorter than himself. "Let me put the ugly words first. The reason we can form an alliance today and benefit one another is not because the two of us fell in Love at First Sight or hit it off in spirit. It is only because Old Dragon City and Cloud Mist Mountain have accumulated ties of goodwill through the hard work of generations of Patriarchs and elders over hundreds of years. If we botch this and incur the thunderous fury of those old men, forget you, Cai Jinjian, or me, Fu Nanhua—even our parents and masters would be unable to bear the consequences!"

Cai Jinjian smiled. "So during our time in the small town, we must be open and honest with each other, and cooperate in complete sincerity. Right?"

Even in this dark alley, Fu Nanhua displayed his handsome charm. He smiled. "Besides that..."

Fu Nanhua turned to glance behind him. After withdrawing his gaze, he lowered his voice. "We must also be wary of those two. After all, they are not from Zhengyang Mountain, a renowned righteous sect praised by all, and I have heard that the two of them have always been extremely wild and unruly, not much for rules."

The tall woman narrowed her expressive phoenix eyes, as though saying in a delicate voice, That is why I chose you, Young Master Fu.

Fu Nanhua said softly, "Let's go. Although sages and worthies suppress this place and keep the various forces in balance, we should still be careful. It would be bad to capsize in a gutter. In any case, whether you and I can achieve Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate depends on this one move."

This famed favored child of heaven grew ever more steadfast in his Dao heart. He silently recited, Great Dao is promising. Whoever blocks my path—even immortals and Buddhas may be slain!

He looked toward the depths of the alley and saw a Thin Young Man approaching from far away.

It was their second meeting.

The two continued strolling along, like an Immortal Couple descended into the mortal world.

The tall woman also spotted the Young Man and teased, "By the gate, then in the alley—running into him twice. Do you think this Young Man might...?"

She left the sentence unfinished, but Fu Nanhua naturally understood what she meant. Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, he said, "My Great Immortal Cai, there are six hundred households in this small town. Including the slave girls and servants raised by the ten great clans, there are nearly five thousand people. No matter how many hidden dragons and crouching tigers the town conceals, there is still a limit. Besides, over all these years, those fine seedlings with innate talent, Good Fortune, and ties to fate have long since been secretly divided up. The reason we can Find Bargains this time is merely because those unfathomable figures of great supernatural power deliberately left something for others to pick up."

The woman also laughed at herself, embarrassed by her naïve thought.

After hesitating, Fu Nanhua still said, "I do not know how your Patriarch taught you the secrets of heaven, but my father once told me this: after entering this place, if anyone makes your heart turn cold, you must take the initiative to avoid them, keep them at a respectful distance, and never lightly defy or provoke them. This place hides dragons and crouching tigers; its depths cannot be fathomed. Anyone who inspires dislike in you is most likely a rival in this expedition to seek hidden treasures in the town. As for anyone who makes you feel close to them, they may be someone of abundant fortune and prosperity in this land, perhaps even an opportunity that can become your own. At that time, as long as you do not kill lightly or break those few old rules as immovable as thunder, then whether you buy, deceive, or seize by force depends on..."

Cai Jinjian's lips curled upward. "Depends on our mood."

She suddenly frowned. "Young Master Fu, why would you not let me bring along descendants of the locally rooted Zhao clan? Although I learned some of the local dialect before setting out..."

Fu Nanhua interrupted her and shook his head. "Those great surnames have always maintained secret channels Intertwined with the outside world. Beneath the Sage's very eyes, they can pass along a few harmless messages without being judged to have crossed the forbidden line. Accumulated over generation after generation, their foundations run deep. The true Backers of those surnames are still somewhat beyond Old Dragon City and Cloud Mist Mountain. Furthermore, borrowing an outsider's strength is ultimately unsightly and can easily breed complications and ruin important matters. If you do not wish to speak later, I will speak for you."

She smiled. "It is only a matter of saying a few awkward words. I am not so delicate."

Fu Nanhua merely smiled it off, and Cai Jinjian said nothing more.

At the end of the day, friends who formed an alliance halfway could not compare to family.

What was more, in the eyes of certain ambitious people determined to attain the Dao, what did ancestors and descendants, fathers and sons, husbands and wives, or brothers amount to?

Fu Nanhua's smile was serene, his bearing graceful and noble, like the son of an aristocratic family from one of the foremost powerful clans in the world.

The reason he had revealed a secret of heaven and told Cai Jinjian the "mental method" his father had privately passed on to him was actually very simple.

Compared to the other two traveling with them earlier—the dull middle-aged man and the cold black-clothed girl—Fu Nanhua had felt killing intent toward the woman beside him, Cai Jinjian of Cloud Mist Mountain, from the very first step he took through the fenced town gate!

Fu Nanhua subconsciously reached out and gripped the green pendant at his waist.

Old Dragon Spreads Rain, craftsmanship that stole from Heaven itself.

A gentleman does not part with jade without cause.

After thinking for a moment, Cai Jinjian closed her eyes. When she opened them a short while later, she said, "Song Jixin, Gu Can... I choose Gu Can."

Fu Nanhua raised an eyebrow. "Good. A word is settled!"

In their field of vision, the Young Man took turns darting left and right through the alley until he reached a spot where he was about to unlock a door and push it open.

Fu Nanhua quickly stepped forward with Cai Jinjian and smiled. "What a coincidence. We meet again."

The poorly dressed Young Man was Chen Ping'an, who had just come from Gu Can's home. Hearing the voice, he turned around, nodded, and asked, "Do you need something?"

Speaking in the small town's skilled, fluent dialect, Fu Nanhua said, "This is called Mud Bottle Alley, right? I wanted to ask whether a person named Song Jixin lives here, as well as a child called Gu Can. I am from the capital, and my family has been friends with Song Jixin's father's family for generations. This older sister beside me is surnamed Cai and is from Gu Can's mother's natal family. So the two of us traveled together, and it so happened we were both looking in the same alley. Isn't that a coincidence? Everything seems to have come together—truly, there are no coincidences without a story."

Fu Nanhua's smile was unhurried. Even when speaking to the straw-sandaled youth from the lowest rung of the town, the tall man bent slightly to accommodate him and maintained that posture throughout their conversation. It neither seemed affected nor gave the impression of ulterior motives; instead, it made others feel he was gentle, courteous, humble, and yielding—a true gentleman.

The Young Man, looking up at him, gave an "Mm." His smile was shy as he said softly, "It is quite a coincidence."

Fu Nanhua's smile deepened. "Then where do these two families live?"

To his surprise, the Young Man shook his head. "Until recently, I was an apprentice at a Dragon Kiln. I lived outside the town for many years and only just moved here, so I do not know the neighbors well. Why not ask someone else?"

Fu Nanhua smiled but did not rush to speak, as if considering his phrasing.

The tall woman smiled. "Little brother, lying is not good. Do you think we look like bad people? Even taking ten thousand steps back, what bad thing could we do in broad daylight?"

Chen Ping'an blinked. "But I really do not know."

Cai Jinjian resumed her usual manner of speech and asked Fu Nanhua, "Is this child asking for payment?"

Fu Nanhua's expression remained unchanged. "Doesn't seem like it."

A trace of impatience, hidden so faintly it was nearly imperceptible, surfaced between the tall woman's brows. "If it comes to that, we can go door to door. We will find them anyway."

Fu Nanhua waved a hand at her, then patiently coaxed the Young Man. "Help us with this small favor, and I will give you something. How about it?"

The Young Man scratched his head. His frame was thin, his eyes clear.

Fu Nanhua suddenly straightened up.

Then he saw a Young Man brimming with scholarly air crouching on a wall not far away, studying them.

Near the plainly dressed Young Man stood a Young Girl, only the upper half of her face visible. She was neat and delicate, with brows and eyes like dark-painted silk.

At that moment, Fu Nanhua's mind settled completely.

The Young Man before him was surely already in his grasp.

The Young Man on the wall stood and called out, "Are you looking for someone?"

Fu Nanhua and Cai Jinjian had no choice but to lift their heads. Fu Nanhua said, "Yes, I am looking for you. This older sister beside me is looking for Gu Can. Can you help?"

The Young Man frowned. "You know me?"

Fu Nanhua smiled. "Of course I do not know you, but I know Lord Song, who now serves in the Ministry of Rites."

Song Jixin got straight to the point. "I can help you find Gu Can the Snotbug. What is the benefit?"

Without another word, Fu Nanhua removed the green pendant from his waist and threw it high toward the Young Man standing atop the low wall. "It is yours."

Upon catching it, Song Jixin was slightly startled, though his expression did not change. He lowered his head and said to the maidservant Zhi Gui, "Go."

She nodded and left the courtyard. When the Young Girl stood quietly in the narrow alley, all of Mud Bottle Alley seemed to brighten in an instant.

Fu Nanhua smiled at the straw-sandaled youth. "Little one, let me give you a saying: though Heaven's rain is broad, it does not moisten rootless grass."

Then he took the lead in walking toward the Young Girl.

The tall woman did not move. With an amused look in her eyes, she asked the Young Man in a low voice, "Do you know what that means?"

Her eyes gleamed, and for no reason at all, she became interested. Without waiting for his answer, she laughed heartily. "It simply means that you missed a great opportunity. If this Young Master merely picked out a little from his Fingernail Gap, it would be enough for you to live an incomparably comfortable life 'below the mountain' for the rest of your days. But luckily for you, you probably will never know what you missed today. It is truly a blessing amid misfortune; otherwise, you would regret it until your Green Intestine turned blue."

Hearing this, Fu Nanhua felt she was playing the lute to a cow.

Outside the small town, the gap between people—especially between high and low—was even greater than the divide between yin and yang.

Cai Jinjian walked backward toward the maidservant, facing the straw-sandaled youth. "Though Heaven's rain is broad, it does not moisten rootless grass. Remember that."

The Young Man's expression had not changed all along. Then he suddenly shouted, "Watch out behind you..."

Cai Jinjian's body abruptly froze.

The Young Man lowered his voice. "Dog shit."