So it was only natural that Chen Fan couldn't fully understand this Qingxin Jue.
"It's not that there's anything I don't understand. I don't understand any of it!"
Chen Fan was at a loss. He truly admired those transmigrators who had come before him.
They could pick up any book and start cultivating, and even improve upon what was already written.
They were always surpassing their predecessors and exceeding the original author's limits.
"Hahaha! With skills like yours, you still want to cultivate immortality and seek the Dao?"
From behind Zhang Tianshou, Zhang Tianyu suddenly leaped out and ridiculed Chen Fan.
Zhang Tianshou slapped Zhang Tianyu on the back of the head in annoyance and scolded her.
"Little sister, don't be rude to Mister!"
"Hmph, you were calling him Ah Fan before, and now he's Mister?
Nya nya, here, take it. I'm not playing with you anymore!"
Seeing Zhang Tianshou raise her hand as if to hit her, Zhang Tianyu suddenly jumped back.
She made a face at Zhang Tianshou, took a miniature Bagua Mirror from her sleeve, and tossed it into Zhang Tianshou's arms. Then she spun around and vanished.
"Ah Fan, don't take it to heart. Tianyu, she..."
"It's fine. That girl acts like she never grew up. I won't hold it against her!"
Chen Fan smiled and shook his head. Was he really that petty?
At most, when they ate, he'd put Zhang Tianyu's favorite dishes beside Zhang Tianxian instead.
"Ah Fan, I'm glad you understand. This is the Yuhua Bagua Mirror.
It can conceal Heavenly Secrets and mask your aura. It can also protect its owner automatically.
There are many demons and monsters coming and going in Zhao Family Village these days. We can't afford to let our guard down!"
As she spoke, Zhang Tianshou handed the Bagua Mirror to Chen Fan.
At her words, Chen Fan's eyes lit up, and he accepted the Yuhua Bagua Mirror without hesitation.
"Then I'll have to thank you for thinking of me, Tianshou. This is exactly what I need.
It's just that I don't have anything good to give you in return. If I come across something worthwhile in the future, I'll give you something then!"
Chen Fan took a red jade pendant from his robes and threaded the Bagua Mirror onto it.
Zhang Tianshou's cheeks immediately turned red. She recognized the pendant—it was the token she had given Chen Fan.
The moment Chen Fan put on the Bagua Mirror,
the phantom of a precious mirror appeared above his head, radiating a soft, clear light.
Eight intricate blue runes shimmered.
The purple-and-gold pillar of fortune above Chen Fan's head slowly vanished.
Only a cloud of earthy-yellow fortune remained, enveloping him.
A large wok, a contract, and a Qu Yuan Plow glowed with golden light.
In the next moment, they all sank beneath the Bagua Mirror and disappeared as well.
"Whew, this should be enough to get Ah Fan through the early stages.
Once Ah Fan has advanced far along the path of the sages, no one will be able to take his place by using the substitution trick!"
Seeing the Yuhua Bagua Mirror take effect, Zhang Tianshou finally let out a sigh of relief.
It wasn't easy for a human sage to succeed.
If someone learned a sage's identity before the sage emerged and gained control of the path that sage would follow,
then, for example, if Chen Fan was overseeing the River God contract, anyone could look at it and figure out what to do next.
At best, they might secretly imprison Chen Fan and take charge of promoting this path themselves.
Someone more ruthless might scheme to strip Chen Fan of all his merit, leaving him dead and his Dao destroyed.
But once Chen Fan's Dao had matured and his merit and fortune surged,
even a sage would have to weigh whether scheming against Chen Fan was worth the price.
"Ah Fan, remember: you can take this Bagua Mirror off at any time!"
Zhang Tianshou warned Chen Fan again, and he nodded in agreement.
Chen Fan cared a great deal about his own life.
"Don't worry. Just like the jade pendant, I've never taken it off, not even to bathe!"
As soon as Chen Fan said that, Zhang Tianshou's freshly recovered complexion turned bright red.
"What are you saying? I'm not talking to you anymore!"
Watching Zhang Tianshou suddenly run off, Chen Fan belatedly realized what he'd said.
Had he just teased Zhang Tianshou?
"That was nothing. The ancients really were so innocent!"
The corners of Chen Fan's mouth lifted slightly, and a hint of amusement appeared in his eyes.
If he wanted to propose to the Zhang Clan of Qinghe, though, he still had a little way to go!
Thinking of this, Chen Fan turned to look at the Qu Yuan Plow covered with a straw mat in the corner.
"When will Li Shimin's special envoy arrive undercover? I need to pick up the pace!"
In the inner hall of Yaochi in the Heavenly Court, the dignified and elegant Queen Mother of the Jade Pool furrowed her brow slightly.
"Where is my dressing mirror?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, I believe I saw the little princess come by and take it!
Would you like me to go to Purple Cloud Palace and bring it back?"
A lady-in-waiting answered. A hint of helplessness flashed through the Queen Mother's eyes.
"That girl is always stealing things from me.
Never mind. It's only a dressing mirror. Still, you may as well go.
Those girls have been having far too much fun lately. Tell them to come back at once. Not a single one of them is to miss the Peach Banquet!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Mysterious Bai Qianli, Driving the Princesses of the Heavenly Court Crazy?
On the second floor of a small, simply decorated European-style tavern in Qingshi Town,
a man in a long black robe, with a thin mustache, sat by the window.
Suddenly, a man dressed in white came slowly up from downstairs.
The man in white glanced around, spotted the mustached man in black, and his eyes lit up.
He walked over and cupped his hands toward the man in black.
"Greetings, sir. Would you mind if I shared your table?"
The man in black turned around. It was none other than Wei Zheng, whom Li Shimin had sent to Qingshi Town to investigate the case.
Hearing the man in white, Wei Zheng glanced at the empty table nearby.
A glint flashed in his eyes. He narrowed them slightly, extended a hand, and smiled.
"By all means, if you don't mind."
"Hahaha, thank you, sir. I'm Bai Qianli. May I ask your name?"
Bai Qianli cupped his hands toward Wei Zheng, his gaze briefly sweeping over Wei Zheng's head.
Wei Zheng smiled faintly and returned the gesture.
"I'm Wei Xuancheng. 'As dusk clouds gather across the river and sky, I think of an old friend a thousand miles away.' Brother Bai has a fine name.
"Judging by your clothes and manner, though, you're not from around here."
A shadow passed through Wei Zheng's eyes as he probed.
Bai Qianli smiled at his question, flicked open his folding fan, and replied,
"Brother Wei is too kind. I'm merely traveling through.
"I heard this place has a remarkable sight: people living peacefully alongside demons. It's quite extraordinary.
"So I came here, drawn by its reputation, hoping to see it for myself. Have you ever witnessed it, Brother Wei?"
Faced with Wei Zheng's probing, Bai Qianli answered flawlessly.
Before you continue