A Friend Visits (Please Follow and Bookmark)

At the main gate of the separate courtyard atop the mountain, Wang Ping waited quietly for his guest with his two disciples.

About half an hour later, Feng Miao, dressed in the robes of the True Sun Sect, appeared at the end of the Rugged Mountain Path. She had changed greatly from nine years ago. The sharp edge around her had been reined in until it was nowhere to be seen, and the great saber on her back had vanished as well.

Looking more closely, the Spiritual Energy Fluctuation around her body was already nearing Marrow Cleansing Completion, while the waist token of the Daoist Scripture Hall still hung at her waist.

When their eyes met, both of them felt a moment of wistful emotion.

As she approached, Feng Miao spoke first. "Fellow Daoist, your cultivation has improved considerably. Congratulations!"

"How could a lesser cultivator like me compare to the True Sun Sect?" Wang Ping replied with appropriate humility.

"This place is far better than my Cultivation Place. You even have a Spirit Gathering Array prepared."

Feng Miao looked toward the Mountain Summit Direction. "Great Sects may look glorious from the outside, but their internal resources are spread extremely evenly. Take me, for instance. I've reached the most critical point of Marrow Cleansing, yet I still have to run errands for the Daoist Scripture Hall just to qualify to exchange for the materials needed for Foundation Establishment."

"I only have things this good because of my master's care. Otherwise, I'd be worse off than you."

As he spoke, Wang Ping turned sideways and invited Feng Miao into the Mountain Top Courtyard to talk. His words sounded humble, but they were also a form of self-encouragement.

From the day he began cultivating until now, Daoist Yucheng had protected him every step of the way. Whatever he lacked, Daoist Yucheng had prepared in advance. He was like the waste disciple beside the protagonist in a novel—the protagonist worked himself to death every day gathering materials, while he was only responsible for curling up in the Safe Zone and lying flat.

Chatting and Laughing, the two arrived at the Mountain Top Courtyard. Feng Miao praised it, saying, "It truly is a fine place."

She envied it from the bottom of her heart. Though the True Sun Sect was good, it was simply too vast. Its disciples were spread across every corner of the Xia Kingdom, and its resources could never possibly take care of everyone.

When she cultivated, she had even trained alongside dozens of people, just like in an ordinary private school. Only after achieving success in Qi Refining did she gain even a little say.

"How is Fellow Daoist Cheng Ji these days?" Wang Ping asked about Cheng Ji after sitting down.

At the mention of Cheng Ji's name, an unusual look flashed through Feng Miao's eyes. Then she said, "He's doing well. He's probably living the best among cultivators of our generation. He refines pills and sells them for money every day. Last month, he gathered the materials for Foundation Establishment and returned to White Crane Mountain for secluded cultivation. We won't be seeing him for quite some time."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ping thought of the twenty years he needed for his own Foundation Establishment and once again sighed inwardly at the hardship of cultivation.

Seeing Liu Shuang and Yang Ziping preparing to light a fire, boil water, and brew tea, Feng Miao stopped them. "Don't trouble yourselves. I never drink tea. A bowl of clear water will do."

"Bring up a jar of yellow wine from the cellar," Wang Ping instructed.

"Wine works too!" Feng Miao's eyes lit up.

When a jar of wine was brought up, Yulian, whose shrunken body was coiled around Wang Ping's wrist, opened her eyes and said unhappily, "This smell is awful. Huh, it's the Little Flame Man from last time!"

Ever since Wang Ping achieved Foundation Establishment, Yulian had spent most of her time in a shrunken form around his wrist, looking just like a silver bracelet.

Feng Miao soon noticed Yulian. She was not overly surprised; many Qi practitioners liked raising spirit beasts, especially secluded Qi practitioners like Wang Ping. Only, the little snake's gaze made her feel somewhat offended, but she said nothing and pretended not to notice.

When they had drunk half the jar, their reminiscing was more or less finished. Feng Miao raised a cup of wine and brought up the serious matter. "I came this time mainly to ask Fellow Daoist for help."

"What kind of help?"

"Two fellow Daoists from the Daoist Scripture Hall and I have been investigating a case. We traced it to Shu County and discovered that the Northern Mountain Forest north of Shu County may contain a large number of shapeshifting Yao. There are at least five hundred of them. Even the Mountain God appointed by the Imperial Court may already have been absorbed into their ranks. With Monsters gathered at such a scale, one of them must be the leader."

"Shu County..."

Wang Ping looked toward his disciple.

Liu Shuang immediately answered, "Shu County belongs to Sanhe Prefecture, right next to Shang'an Prefecture."

The preaching territory recognized by the Imperial Court and the Daoist Scripture Hall for Thousand Wood Temple was Shang'an Prefecture. In other words, Shang'an Prefecture was Thousand Wood Temple's territory, while other places would most likely not care about its influence.

"Sanhe Prefecture..."

"You should be able to speak to them, right? We need to organize a Mountain Search Team. Otherwise, with only the three of us, we might not find those Monsters and Spirits even in ten years!"

Mountain Search and Demon Extermination...

It was something the Xia Kingdom did every so often. If Wang Ping had never visited the Hushan Kingdom, he might have thought nothing of it. But after going there, he had gained a new view of "Mountain Search and Demon Extermination." He suspected the Xia Kingdom's imperial family was involved.

"I'll ask about the situation first..."

Wang Ping had spent these years focused only on cultivation and had not handled a single mundane affair. After speaking, he looked toward Liu Shuang. Under Liu Shuang's Expectant Gaze, he instructed Yang Ziwen, "Go call your Martial Uncle Zhao Qing up here."

"Yes!"

Yang Ziwen answered steadily. Liu Shuang blinked, wanting to leave with Yang Ziwen, but Wang Ping called her back. She could only remain in the courtyard and continue serving as the young disciple pouring wine.

"A lot of news has come up from the mountain lately. They say Mozhou Road has fallen into unrest again?"

Wang Ping brought up something that interested him. Since the New Emperor ascended the throne, Mozhou Road, which had been peaceful for several years, had recently stirred up trouble again, becoming after-meal talk for common folk in other regions.

Feng Miao said unconcernedly, "To be precise, it isn't only Mozhou Road. Most of the northwestern regions are somewhat unstable. Coupled with the standoff at the Northern Border, our New Emperor probably can't even sleep soundly now."

Seeing Wang Ping's expression, she continued explaining, "Don't worry. The world cannot descend into chaos. The imperial family cultivates the Divine Path. Though they cannot live long, keeping Upper Capital and its Surrounding Areas stable is easy enough. As long as those regions remain under the imperial family's control, other places cannot stir up any storms."

Wang Ping had heard of the Divine Path from Daoist Yucheng's Collection of Books. Put simply, it cultivated the path of sages, gathering the Faith of All People to Oversee the World. Yet this "world" was limited to Upper Capital and its Surrounding Areas. In other regions, they could only appoint governors, prefects, and county magistrates, and they still had to Share Benefits with scholarly clans and cultivators.

The two talked for another Half an Hour before Zhao Qing finally arrived at the courtyard, dusty and travel-worn.

"Senior brother!"

He first offered a respectful greeting.

Wang Ping invited Zhao Qing to sit and drink with them. After several cups of wine, he clearly explained Feng Miao's matter.

"If we come forward, organizing a mountain search should not be difficult. And if there truly are Monsters to be exterminated, it would also be an achievement for Shu County. It's only the wording of the official document..."

Zhao Qing looked at Feng Miao.

Feng Miao instantly understood and immediately said, "They can write their official document however they want. I only want the memories of one Snake Demon among them."

"Good. Leave it to me. I'll give you an answer within half a month."