When people spoke of the wealthiest place in Qinghe Prefecture, many thought of the Qing River Water Mansion, not the Cui Clan, the Lin Clan, or the Prefecture Governor's Mansion. After all, the treasures and riches of the entire seven-hundred-li stretch of the Qing River were concentrated in the Water Mansion. Its lavish splendor was the talk of the world.
The Water Mansion lay at the bottom of the Qing River, ruling over seven hundred li of water. Its sprawling complex rose and fell across the riverbed, a dazzling sight filled with rare wonders and gleaming treasures.
In a side hall, a handsome man in splendid robes sat high in his seat, his head bowed as he savored his tea.
Below him, an envoy wearing a White Bone Mask spoke with furious indignation. "Young Lord, our agreement was not like this! We've paid such a great price. Why are the Qing River Aquatic Clan merely patrolling the surface of the river?"
The man in splendid robes smacked his lips. "Mm, this jade tea is excellent. It nourishes the spirit. Envoy, will you truly not have a cup?"
The envoy must have grown tired of talking. He picked up the fragrant tea beside him, drained it in one gulp, then continued, "The Qing River Water Mansion has always been known to honor its word. Everyone knows this. Back then, the Mansion Lord pledged himself to Zhuang Chenggan and led his entire clan into battle, turning the Lan River red. People still sing his praises to this day. Why are you going back on your word, Young Lord? Aren't you afraid of tarnishing your lord's reputation?"
The Lan River was a great river in Yong territory, and the envoy was referring to the war in which the Zhuang Kingdom had been founded. Yong's forces had advanced by land and water, intent on wiping out Zhuang in one decisive blow. It was the lord of the Qing River Water Mansion who led his entire clan into battle and crushed Yong's navy on the Lan River. Blood stained the river red, and boats and oars could not pass. This relieved Grand Ancestor Zhuang Chenggan of any worries on his rear flank, allowing him to stake everything on one final struggle and ultimately found the kingdom.
The alliance between the Qing River Water Mansion and the Zhuang Kingdom had continued ever since, right down to the present day.
The man in splendid robes gently set his teacup on the table. Though a smile still hung on his face, the atmosphere had changed completely.
"You've reminded me of something, Envoy. My father and the Zhuang Emperor made an alliance long ago. If I agree to help you, won't I be betraying my father's word? That would be a grave act of filial impiety."
"Someone come." The man in splendid robes rapped his knuckles on the table. A guard entered. "Pass down my order. Have the Yuyong Division withdraw three li. They are not to disturb the people on the shore."
"Young Lord!" The White Bone Masked Man sprang angrily to his feet.
"Stop putting on an act." The man in splendid robes raised a finger before him, his expression calm. "Right now, every army in Qinghe Prefecture is on guard against us. They wouldn't dare leave their posts. You're free to do whatever you like. You've achieved your goal, so don't be so... greedy."
"We agreed beforehand that you would only make a brief raid on the shore..."
The man in splendid robes cut him off. "You think we'd go ashore? The Aquatic Race away from the water is like your Human Race away from the land: stripped of its foundation. Unless you can truly make me resolve to fight the Zhuang Court, do you have the means to do that?"
The envoy's face was hidden beneath the White Bone Mask, making his expression impossible to see. But his voice sounded as if he were grinding the words out through clenched teeth. "What I gave you was an entire Dragon Pearl!"
"It was certainly a valuable gift." The young lord of the Qing River Water Mansion smiled, looking quite pleased. "But it was only worth getting me to go this far."
Seeing that nothing could be done to change the outcome, the envoy in the White Bone Mask swept out of the hall.
Left alone in the side hall, the man in splendid robes let out a cold laugh. "A skulking coward who hides his face dares lecture me about keeping my word?"
Just then, a dignified voice sounded beside him, though its owner did not appear. "Qingyue, tell me what you think."
The young lord of the Qing River Water Mansion, Song Qingyue, let the arrogance fade from his eyes and straightened his posture. "The Zhuang Court has been allied with our Qing River Water Mansion for centuries, and it has grown more and more conceited. Now Zhuang Gaoxian is even more unreasonable, treating us as though we were his subjects. He actually sent word earlier to ask for Qingzhi's hand for his son, claiming he would honor her as Crown Princess and that our families would be bound together forever..."
"I could never agree to it. My aunt married Zhuang Chenggan back then. She poured her heart and soul into the marriage, only to be manipulated and die in a cold palace! How could I let my sister follow in her footsteps? I was looking for a chance to stir things up and show that brat with the Zhuang surname who rules these seven hundred li of water. But we have to keep this within bounds. The Human Race is powerful now, and even if we toppled the Zhuang Court, the rulers of other kingdoms might be no better. Having thirty thousand troops patrol the Qing River is just right. As for the people from the White Bone Sect, their arrival with a Dragon Pearl was an unexpected windfall."
The dignified voice sighed. "Your aunt and Zhuang Chenggan were in love. I wasn't trying to arrange a political marriage... Forget it. How do you plan to arrange things for Qingzhi?"
Song Qingyue pondered for a moment. "We've fallen out with the Qinghe Prefecture Governor, and Zhuang Gaoxian is shameless. It won't be safe for her to stay in Qinghe City. But Qingzhi is just at the age to begin her studies, so I think we should send her to Maple Forest City and let her study there for a while."
The voice asked again, "Why Maple Forest City?"
"I can't hide it from you, Father." Song Qingyue said, "The White Bone Sect was willing to offer even a Dragon Pearl this time, so they must be planning something major in Maple Forest City, something big enough to shake the Zhuang Kingdom. But that means Maple Forest City will be the safest place afterward, perfect for studying. And, well, I have a selfish reason too. If Qingzhi goes to Maple Forest City, we can send people to protect her openly. It's a small city without any great experts, so they won't interfere with us. I can also look for traces of the White Bone Sect and probe their depths. Now that the White Bone Sect has risen from the ashes, I have a feeling they're hiding some huge secret. Besides, the White Bone Sect has a long history, so they must have plenty of good things. Evil heretics are enemies of all, and a single Dragon Pearl won't satisfy me."
The dignified voice offered no opinion on Song Qingyue's intricate plans, merely saying, "I entrusted all the Water Mansion's affairs to you long ago. Handle things as you see fit."
"Yes." Song Qingyue nodded. "By the way, I've already had someone deliver the Dragon Pearl to the outside of your meditation room. Remember to refine it."
"I've examined the Dragon Pearl. There were some tricks inside, but I've erased them. Use it without worry; it could save a thousand years of effort. As for me, I'm already frail and ill. I have no hope of becoming a dragon. Your aunt died two hundred and seventeen years and three months ago, and Zhuang Chenggan has been dead for nearly two hundred years. Few of our old friends remain. I'm still alive, but only just. These days, I'm merely protecting you as you go a little farther. The Dragon Pearl is precious, but it's of no use to me."
The voice grew fainter and fainter, until at last it faded into a sigh and disappeared from the side hall.
Song Qingyue leaned back in his tall chair, suddenly feeling as though all the meaning had drained from life.
The White Bone Masked Man left the Water Mansion and boarded a small boat. It seemed to be made of white bone, yet had no bottom. It sped swiftly through the water, and when fish or crabs failed to dodge in time, it crushed straight over them without leaving so much as a trace of blood.
The Bottomless White Bone Boat soon burst through the water's surface. The envoy stepped ashore, and the boat turned and slipped back beneath the water, vanishing to who knew where.
The envoy hurried on in silence. Though he moved quickly, his feet never touched the dust. He seemed to know the Qinghe Prefecture army's patrol routes by heart, slipping freely through the gaps between their posts. Before long, he had left the area and climbed into the mountains.
From a distance, the mountain resembled an ox's head. Up close, it was quite beautiful too. The envoy walked straight toward a rock face without slowing and passed right through it.
Beyond lay a hidden world.
Bloodcurdling murals covered both sides of the passage, and Green Brick paved the long corridor.
As soon as the envoy entered, someone came to meet him. "How did it go?"
The White Bone Masked Man said bitterly, "That bastard Song Qingyue swallowed the bait, but only brushed against the hook!"
The other man said, "That old bastard Song Hengjiang isn't dead yet. He won't let Song Qingyue do anything reckless. We never expected them to truly fall out with the Zhuang Court and start a war."
"Even so, it's infuriating. That was a Dragon Pearl! They've been extinct since antiquity, and each one is rarer than the last." The White Bone Masked Man sighed.
"Once things are settled in Small Forest Town, we'll have achieved our goal. There's no need to worry about these minor details. Besides, that Dragon Pearl of ours probably won't agree with the little beast after he swallows it..."
"He thinks he can toy with the White Bone Sect, but he doesn't know..." The White Bone Masked Man's voice turned vicious. "Once the Dao Child appears in this world, the first thing we'll do is slaughter the Qing River Water Mansion! We'll turn the entire seven hundred li of the Qing River into a river of white bones!"
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