Li Qingxian did the math. Of the thirty thousand plus people, only twenty percent remained—roughly twenty-five thousand had died. That was simply terrifying. These were over twenty thousand Seventh Rank cultivators. To use an improper analogy, it would be like more than twenty thousand Seventh Rank county magistrates dying. Though... put that way, it somehow seemed easier to accept.
"Mother, what do you think of this Azure Cloud Examination?" Li Qingxian asked with a face full of smiles, looking utterly well-behaved.
"What would womenfolk like us know about examinations? Still, you are not the only one with treasures. Others have treasures too. Some treasures are terribly troublesome, so you must be more careful."
Everyone thought of the Glazed Tile and the Movable-Type Token.
Weird Mother continued, "Your treasure..."
Weird Mother's voice abruptly stopped. After a while, she continued, "Your treasure—keep it safe. Do not use it unless driven to the last extremity. And that Glazed Broken Tile is a fine treasure as well. Think carefully about when to use it. Used well, they are all treasures; used poorly, they are all junk."
"This child will remember," Li Qingxian said.
Weird Mother added, "Your uncle serves as a guard in the palace, so he cannot help you with the examination. If you see him, show him your rattle-drum, and he will recognize you. Oh, and your grandmother sometimes stays elsewhere and sometimes lives in the palace. In the future, if you can avoid disturbing her, then do not disturb her. Do you understand?"
"This child understands."
Everyone was completely lost, both envious and troubled. They had never expected Eerie's connections to be so complicated.
"Look at this memory of mine—I forgot the most important matter. Someone, bring the watering can," Weird Mother said.
A legless woman floated out the door and