Setting Out from the Profound Residence

Chapter 42: Setting Out from the Profound Residence

After leaving Kuiwen Hall, Zhang Yu headed for the Profound Residence with the two disciples who had come to receive him. Through their conversation along the way, he learned their names.

One was named Wen Guo, the other Wen De. They were cousins. Though both cultivated at the Profound Residence, neither had entered through Taiyang Academy.

Every year, the Profound Residence took in a great many orphans. From childhood, they were taught Celestial Xia's language and script. Since they grew up in the Profound Residence or one of its outposts, they generally found it easier to gain the trust of the Upper Layer than disciples who had entered through the Academy.

Once they reached adulthood, those who could sense the Seal of the Great Dao would be selected to enter the Residence and become someone's disciples. Those who failed to sense it would generally be assigned as assistants at the Profound Residence or its various outposts around Ruiguang.

The Wen brothers could be considered Xu Ying's disciples. Nominally, Zhang Yu and Xu Ying were fellow disciples, so although the brothers had studied the Seal of the Great Dao for over twenty years, in terms of seniority, they were still Zhang Yu's juniors. Thus, both treated him with great respect and courtesy.

However, while these disciples had been raised by the Profound Residence since childhood, their limits in cultivation were far inferior to students who had entered through Taiyang Academy's admissions process.

Those able to study at Taiyang Academy were already one in a hundred. Whether in reasoning or learning ability, they far surpassed ordinary people. Every one of them could be called an outstanding talent among men.

Sixty years ago, aside from those who had come from Celestial Xia itself, most of the Profound Residence's top combatants had once been students of Taiyang Academy.

Xu Ying often complained that the Academy produced no talent. Yet in truth, over these past decades, there had been no shortage of people capable of turning the tide. Many of them, however, had ultimately not remained in the Profound Residence, instead standing on its opposing side.

As Zhang Yu knew few people in the Profound Residence before this, he had never heard these secrets. He had wanted to inquire further, but unfortunately, the Wen brothers knew only so much. Beyond what they had just said, they could tell him nothing else.

Halfway there, he saw that they were not far from his residence. Thinking that the Profound Residence's summons would very likely require a trip outside, he said, "Gentlemen, I'll return to my residence to change clothes and gather a few things."

Wen Guo politely said, "Please do as you wish, Mr. Zhang. But please be a little quick and don't delay too long. The chief officer is waiting for us."

Zhang Yu nodded. He turned back toward his residence and pushed open the door, while the Wen brothers waited outside.

Since he had prepared to leave the Residence long ago, he moved swiftly. He first changed into a Profound Residence daoist robe, draped a hooded cloak over it, put on the pair of vermilion gloves, and finally took the Xia Sword in hand.

After giving Li Qinghe a few brief instructions, he came out and set off again with the Wen brothers. The three quickened their pace, and in less than half a Xia hour, they had reached the Profound Residence.

He first went to the Affairs Hall to see Xiang Chun. The latter explained that the Profound Residence periodically sent disciples out to handle matters, and this time, a Mystic Cultivator surnamed Cai was being dispatched to preserve local stability. Zhang Yu was to accompany him and gain some experience along the way.

Xiang Chun specifically reminded him to take greater care of himself and, should anything happen, to prioritize his own safety. After offering a few words of encouragement, he dismissed him.

The Wen brothers had been waiting below. Seeing him emerge, Wen Guo came forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Mr. Zhang, Martial Uncle Cai is already waiting at Bamboo Garden. Let's go at once."

Zhang Yu nodded and followed the two. This time, they did not head toward the main halls, but entered a bamboo grove through a side corridor and arrived before an exquisite two-story bamboo building.

A lean man in a dark-blue daoist robe had already been waiting there.

He looked around forty, with two thin mustaches above his lip and a kindly expression when observing others. Seeing the three approach, he raised his hand in greeting to Zhang Yu first. "Junior Brother Zhang, my name is Cai Weng. You may call me Senior Brother Cai. Actually, I've seen you before, but you were painting outside the Profound Residence's gates then, so I didn't go up and disturb you."

Zhang Yu brought his hands together and bowed. "So it was Senior Brother Cai. Then I was the one who was discourteous."

"Not at all, not at all."

After Cai Weng exchanged greetings with him, he greeted the Wen brothers as well and called them all into the bamboo building. A simple map of the Protectorate Office lay spread over the wooden table in the center of the room, with several locations marked in red.

Cai Weng beckoned them to the table and pointed to the farthest red mark. "Time is tight, so I'll make a long story short. This time, we're heading to Lingxuan Town, beside the middle reaches of the Dawn River. It has long faced harassment from all manner of Strange Monsters and native barbarians. Since the Divine Commandery Army withdrew, the local magistrates have found it increasingly difficult to cope. This time, we're going to help stabilize the situation there."

He then traced a semicircle inland with his finger, starting from Ruiguang. "Junior Brother Zhang, this is our route. We need to cross this plain and the Ancient Woodlands before finally reaching our destination."

Zhang Yu found this somewhat strange and asked, "Senior Brother Cai, if the matter is urgent, why don't we take a boat along the inland river? Why make such a large detour?"

Cai Weng sighed. "There is no other choice. There are several Protectorate Office garrison posts along the way. They are often attacked by Strange Monsters and forest barbarians. The Profound Residence has been short-handed recently, so those places are also part of our task. Moreover, I've received word that a group of Other God Cult followers who fled from near Ruiguang may be hiding there. If we encounter them on this trip, we'll clear them out as well."

He looked up at Zhang Yu and smiled. "Junior Brother Zhang slew a Yao Salamander before entering the Residence, and I've heard you also traveled east of Peace Mountain. It seems we'll have to rely heavily on your help this time."

Zhang Yu knew he was merely being polite. "Senior Brother Cai overpraises me. I'll do my utmost."

"Oh, right." Senior Brother Cai smiled. "I know Junior Brother Zhang may be somewhat concerned about the Divine Commandery Army. After all, you severely wounded one of their men. But rest assured, in recent days, the Divine Commandery Army has recalled all its personnel. Though a few remain outside, as long as they aren't at the level of a squad commander or above, they pose no threat to us."

Wen De asked doubtfully, "Martial Uncle Cai, how can you be certain? What if the Divine Commandery Army is merely throwing dust in our eyes?"

Cai Weng said with certainty, "After this Scholars' Deliberation, the Protectorate Office reclaimed the authority to issue orders to the Divine Commandery Army. That is to say, if they wish to mobilize anyone at squad commander level or above, they must report it to the Protectorate Office. The moment they make a move, they won't be able to hide it from us."

Wen De asked skeptically, "Will the Divine Commandery Army really be so obedient?"

The Divine Commandery Army had always been arrogant and tyrannical, looking down on everyone. Would they truly follow the rules this time? He didn't believe it.

Cai Weng smiled. "This time, you can rest easy."

Zhang Yu considered this inwardly. He felt there had to be another reason for Cai Weng to be so certain, but it seemed the other man did not wish to tell them yet.

Cai Weng looked over the three of them. "It's getting late. If Junior Brother Zhang and my two martial nephews are more or less ready, then we'll set out now."

Zhang Yu had long been prepared and said he had no objections. The Wen brothers naturally had none either. Seeing this, Cai Weng no longer delayed. He led the three from the bamboo building and headed toward the denser part of the bamboo grove.

After walking for some time, however, Zhang Yu noticed that they were not heading for the Profound Residence's southern exit, but north instead.

Wen De quietly said, "Mr. Zhang, our Profound Residence backs onto Mount Qi. I've heard there is another passage through Mount Qi. Passing through it lets one leave Auspicious Light City directly. We've never taken it before either."

Zhang Yu nodded inwardly. He had vaguely heard of this before. From the Profound Residence's position, Mount Qi itself stood at the northern edge of Auspicious Light City. Whether for convenient access or guarding against unforeseen circumstances, the Profound Residence needed to open a passage here.

The four walked down a road shaded by the forest canopy and entered a cave carved into the mountainside. They then stepped onto a smooth, level stone-paved path.

The path within the cave was long, yet the light was not dim and the air flowed freely. After walking for about half a quarter-hour, a faint rumbling sound reached them.

Before long, the four arrived at a long cableway, and the sound became clearer. Water seeping from the cracks in the rocks had gathered into a broad, long waterfall. Together with the green vines hanging suspended all around, it formed a unique wonder hidden within the mountain.

Cai Weng said then, "We're almost there. Once we pass this place, the exit is ahead."

Beyond the cableway stood a large stone gate. Cai Weng stepped forward, reached out, and effortlessly pushed it open amid the rumbling. He then gestured for the three to go first.

After Zhang Yu took several steps through the stone gate, his vision suddenly opened up. Before him stretched a magnificent Great Plain, while in the distance, the Peace Mountains rose high above the horizon and extended to the very end of sight.

His heart broadened at once, and he unconsciously recited aloud, "A thousand ravines level here, heaven and earth one clear hue; beneath the vault, distant echoes linger—who has heard them through all ages?"

After Cai Weng emerged as well, he led them down the mountain path. At that moment, he noticed that seven or eight assistants were already waiting at the foot of the mountain, holding horses. They were all fine Qianlu Horses—thirty in total, six packhorses and the rest riding horses.

Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, Cai Weng was the first to swing onto a horse. "Our first destination is the Xiaoshan Town outpost. We'd best hurry and reach it by tonight."

The others stepped forward to select horses, then climbed into their saddles.

Zhang Yu swept his gaze over them and chose a black horse whose coat gleamed like water. Calmly taking hold of the reins, he mounted it. Just then, he felt something stir in his heart and glanced toward a certain spot, but saw nothing.

Then Cai Weng's distant call reached his ears. Zhang Yu's thoughts turned, and he looked back, spurring his horse onward. As hoofbeats rose, the group galloped across the vast plain.

Upon a raised earthen hill not far from Mount Qi stood a tall daoist carrying a sword, watching their figures gradually recede into the distance.

Yet in the next instant, as though a gust of wind had passed, only the lonely hill remained. The man had vanished without a trace.

Some readers were puzzled in the previous chapter about why the Profound Residence's upper ranks didn't know Zhang Yu had joined the Profound Residence. Let me explain: the people in the Learning Affairs Hall knew, because they handled such matters. But they had neither the authority nor the obligation to spread the news, and the Academy's upper ranks had no interest in looking into it. Only those who investigated his records would know.

I mentioned this specifically earlier, in the chapter where Zhang Yu checked the archives at the Cultural Proclamation Hall. Only the true upper ranks of the Academy were qualified to examine the files of those holding Academy posts. So unless Zhang Yu took the initiative to say so himself, most people wouldn't know about it.

Also, even if someone did find out, Zhang Yu had only been in the Profound Residence for two months at most. What could he possibly have learned in two months? Under normal circumstances, no one would think he was all that important to the Profound Residence.

All right, that's all for today's little inside scoop. Bye, everyone!