The Blazing Sun

Within Eastern Terrace Academy, Zhan Zhitong sat in a side chamber on the other side of the academy. He heard every word spoken in the hall with perfect clarity.

"People of the Steel Claw Tribe praise their gods at every moment, so the names of gods permeate their daily speech. To communicate with them, you must understand which god's name to use at what time. Get it wrong, and the consequences can be extraordinarily grave."

Hearing this, he flipped through a booklet before him.

These were the notes he had recorded over the past days. Since the lessons began, Zhang Yu had told one or two legends of the gods nearly every day. The stories were exceptionally engrossing, and even now, they remained fresh in his memory.

He smiled faintly. "I should thank you for your teaching. But a matter as important as communicating with a powerful native state to pacify the Protectorate Office's flank isn't something you can handle. It ought to be done by someone more capable. You should just focus on teaching at the Academy."

At that moment, he heard the voices in the academy gradually quieting. He knew it was now time for the students to ask questions.

Like Qiu Xueling, he possessed an exceptional talent for languages. With many native tongues, he only needed a little study to grasp how to communicate in them, and could draw inferences from one case to another.

For example, based solely on what he had heard so far, he felt he could already converse with people of the Steel Claw Tribe. Yet the students' questions sounded unbearably stupid to him. Listening any longer would be sheer torment, so he had no desire to remain.

He rose, walked straight out of the side chamber, and left Eastern Terrace by way of the downhill slope.

Although Zhang Yu was teaching, as his Heart Lake Seal grew ever more condensed, he was keenly aware of every movement around him. He immediately noticed the man's departure. He paid it no mind and continued answering the students' questions in detail.

Tomorrow would be the first day of the fourth month. Nearly a month had passed, and the gap between the students had gradually begun to show.

Among them, An Chuer had progressed the fastest, followed by the two students surnamed Lin. However, most of those who excelled at this language carried, to some degree, An people blood.

That wasn't to say Celestial Xia students couldn't learn it well. Rather, they instinctively rejected the language and culture of the native tribes. Yet having received Celestial Xia's strict traditional discipline and education from childhood, they understood that even if they disliked something, they still had to learn it—and force themselves to learn it. Still, the psychological barrier ultimately left them lacking a measure of initiative.

Once the students had finished asking their questions, he assigned the usual homework and dismissed them.

As the students left the academy, several raised their hands to shield their foreheads when the scorching sunlight struck them, complaining that the sun had been far too glaring these past days.

Auspicious Light City had endured relentless torrents of rain throughout the entire second month, yet not a single drop had fallen for a whole month now. Such strange weather had not been seen in decades.

Fortunately, the Protectorate Office had built extensive waterworks along the upper and lower reaches of the Flood River, so irrigation water was never lacking. Moreover, Auspicious Light City was like spring all year round, and no signs of water shortage had appeared within the city.

After Duan Neng came out, he took out a handkerchief and wiped his sweat, then patted his round belly. Turning to Yu Mingyang beside him, he said, "Old Yu, a new restaurant has opened in the city. I heard their grilled fish is especially good, and they even have a secret sauce. How about we go have a taste?"

Yu Mingyang thought for a moment. "A friend of mine is coming out of the Profound Residence today. We haven't seen each other in some time. How about we bring him along?"

Duan Neng was delighted. "Great! The more people, the livelier it is. My old man always says that when you're away from home, one person eating is just eating, but two people eating is friendship. Old Yu, your friend is my friend! Heh, I never expected you to have a friend in the Profound Residence. That's impressive."

Yu Mingyang said, "We only met by chance, but later found we got along quite well."

Duan Neng grinned. "In my old man's words, that's fate. Oh, right." He slapped his forehead, pulled something from his pocket, and stuffed it into Yu Mingyang's hand. "Take it."

Yu Mingyang lifted it and examined it. It was a small wooden pendant, strung at the bottom with a fine copper chain, shaped like a carp spouting water. He asked in surprise, "What is this?"

Duan Neng glanced around, then took out an identical pendant and swung it in his hand. In a mysterious tone, he said, "You know, last month, an official from the Governance Office was bitten to death by a poisonous spider. My father specially found this for me. You know what it is?" He gestured with his thick palm. "It's carved from the heartwood of a five-hundred-year-old Huli Wood tree. Carry it with you, and it drives away snakes and insects—and keeps you safe."

Yu Mingyang had originally been reluctant to accept it, but upon hearing this, he seemed to think of something. After some consideration, he solemnly tucked it into his pocket. "All right, I'll take it. But let's agree on this—when I give you something another day, Brother Duan, you can't refuse it."

Duan Neng chuckled. "Let's go pick up Brother Yu's friend, then we'll go eat grilled fish!"

Zhang Yu was still in the academy. Only after grading the homework the students had handed in did he make a few preparations and return to his residence.

Over the past ten-odd days, another batch of bone fragments had been delivered. Perhaps the quantity had not changed much, for compared with the last batch, the Source Energy contained within was not greatly different. With roughly one more batch, he would have enough for a Seal Glyph.

By making indirect inquiries, he had learned that these bone fragments might have come from a corpse pit of ancient strange beasts. If there was one here, then might there be others elsewhere?

Thus, these past days, he had been searching through records to determine what had caused such a situation, while also actively seeking out similar locations.

Since tomorrow was the beginning of the month, and these two days were the time he had agreed to meet Fan Lan, he planned to make a trip to the Profound Residence. After regulating his breath for a while, he changed into a Daoist robe, took the Xia Sword, left his residence, and headed for the Profound Residence.

As he walked, the abundant sunlight these past days, combined with the daily watering by dedicated attendants, had made the flowers along the roadside bloom especially brilliantly. Waves of rich fragrance drifted over from time to time. When the attendants trimming the flower branches saw him arrive in the Profound Residence's Daoist attire with a sword at his side, they all stepped aside and bowed.

After noon, he arrived at the Profound Residence and first returned to his cottage. Seeing it rather deserted, with only two or three people still practicing the Guidance Art, he asked around and learned that most students training here had already gone home once they had observed a Seal Glyph.

He called over an attendant, gave him the calling card he had written beforehand, then entered the cottage and sat inside, regulating his breath in meditation.

At dusk, an attendant suddenly came to summon him, saying that Fan Lan wished to see him.

When Zhang Yu arrived at the side hall, he saw that Bai Qingqing had also arrived. The two exchanged greetings, but Zhang Yu seemed to sense that the latter had lost his former drive to contend with everyone over everything. In its place was an inexplicable confidence.

After the two sat down, Fan Lan exchanged a few pleasantries with them before smiling. "Junior Brothers, how many Seal Glyphs have you observed? Have you found the Heartlight Seal?"

Bai Qingqing remained motionless, casting a sidelong glance at Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu clasped his hands in salute and answered truthfully, "Senior Brother Fan, I have observed all three Seal Glyphs, but I haven't found the Heartlight Seal. I still need Senior Brother Fan's guidance."

Fan Lan smiled without commenting, then turned to Bai Qingqing. "What about you, Junior Brother Bai?"

Bai Qingqing said, "I too have observed three Seal Glyphs, but I also haven't found the Heartlight Seal." After a pause, he added, "But I'm confident I will."

Fan Lan smiled. "The abundance of Divine Essence in you two truly surpasses everyone else. As for the Heartlight Seal, your foundations run deeper than ordinary people's, so there is no need to worry too much. Hmm, let me ask—now that more than a month has passed, you should both be able to see the remaining three Seal Glyphs of the Six Rectitude Seals, correct?"

Bai Qingqing spoke first this time. "Correct. I saw them ten days ago."

Zhang Yu nodded as well.

Fan Lan lightly clapped twice. "Then this will be easy. You needn't continue with the original three Rectitude Seals for now. Start with the newly observed Six Rectitude Seals and search for the Heartlight Seal once more."

Zhang Yu clasped his hands and asked, "May I ask, Senior Brother Fan, why must one do this when seeking the Heartlight Seal?"

Fan Lan smiled. "Because that is how the Seal Method for seeking the Heartlight Seal works."

He looked at them both, his tone earnest. "I know you must have doubts in your hearts. I had those same doubts myself. But I must tell you, Junior Brothers, that every Seal Method was explored by the Profound Residence's sages of old. The principles behind them aren't something you can understand yet, nor is there any need to understand them. You need only follow the Seal Method step by step. That is the safest cultivation."

Bai Qingqing glanced at Zhang Yu, then asked the man seated above, "Senior Brother Fan, what if we still can't find it this time?"

Fan Lan pondered for a moment. "That is possible as well. Your foundations are deeper than others', so there is still a chance, but..."

As he said this, his expression grew several degrees more solemn. "There is something I must tell you. The Profound Residence has had many matters to deal with lately and needs more hands to contribute. Your days of peaceful cultivation may not last much longer. When the time comes, whether or not you find the Heartlight Seal, you must be prepared to face harsh circumstances."