Loyal Advice

Among the martial sects of the world, only the Four Great Sects had the right to establish formal branch estates in Yujing City—until now, with the addition of the Flying Flower Sword Sect.

This was a great occasion.

Sending someone to observe the ceremony cost nothing and granted a favor.

Yet the Four Great Sects sent no one at all.

So blatant a disregard for social niceties?

Was it contempt for the Flying Flower Sword Sect, or something else?

The ways of the martial world and the Imperial Court's officials ran on different tracks, with different modes of thought. As an Assistant Director of the Department of Martial Affairs, he had to ponder this carefully.

Chu Zhiyuan spoke for a while, then looked up at the sky and smiled. "The hour has come, Assistant Director Zhou. Let us begin."

"Ding..."

"Dong..."

The clear tones of bells and chimes rose unhurriedly.

"Young Master." A middle-aged official from the Imperial Household Department approached with a fawning smile, both hands holding a red sandalwood tray two meters long and one meter wide.

The official was thin and small, made to seem even more so by the tray's size. On it were piled high the three sacrificial animals, as if they might crush him at any moment.

Yet he bore it easily, clearly trained in martial arts.

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand.

Guo Chi and the prince's guards stepped aside, letting Zhou Qingfeng, the Imperial Household Department steward, come forward.

Chu Zhiyuan gave him a slight nod but no smile.

He had seen through the officials of the Imperial Household Department.

There was no need to be courteous with them.

No matter how polite you were, if you lacked influence, they would still neglect you. If you held power, even the rudest treatment would earn their utmost respect.

He examined the red sandalwood tray. Nothing amiss.

The three sacrificial animals on the tray were for offering to Heaven and Earth, presented before breaking ground to seek their blessing.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at Lu Wan. "Elder Lu, shall we do this together?"

"Very well." Lu Wan stepped forward and, together with Chu Zhiyuan, lifted the red sandalwood tray and carried it to the altar that had already been prepared.

Red cloth covered the altar, spreading two zhang before it.

On the altar sat a gleaming golden incense burner, before which were six large bowls filled with fresh flowers, fine wine, and sweet spring water.

Two clerks from the Ministry of Rites had already lit six sticks of incense and stood waiting on either side.

"Ding..."

"Dong..."

Amid the clear ringing of bells and chimes, under the gaze of the crowd, Chu Zhiyuan and Lu Wan set down the red sandalwood tray with solemn expressions, took three long incense sticks each, and inserted them into the golden burner.

Then they accepted two golden bowls filled with wine.

The fragrance of wine spread, the golden bowls glittering.

They first sprinkled a little to the east, then a little to the west, then south, then north, and finally poured the rest in the center.

Handing the bowls aside, they stood still with palms pressed together, unmoving.

An old man in a brown robe approached. Tall and lean, with white hair and a youthful face, he wielded a golden wooden sword as he circled the altar at a swift pace, murmuring incantations under his breath.

The chanting rose and fell, now near, now far, as if drifting from the heavens themselves.

This was a High Ritual Elder of the Thick Earth Sect, transmitting the sacrificial text to Heaven and Earth.

The elder's footwork was wondrous; his steps seemed to glide across water, ethereal as an immortal, yet each footfall felt as if it shook the earth, creating a strange sense of dissonance.

Chu Zhiyuan closed his eyes, yet saw the elder's every change clearly. He sensed a peculiar force burrowing up from the ground into the elder's body.

Because of the Earthly Yuan Art, he was especially sensitive to the power of the earth.

The High Ritual Elder channeled this force, making his chanting ever more uncanny. As the sound continued, more and more of the earth's power entered his body.

By the time he had circled the incense table and the two of them nine times, the power within him had multiplied tenfold, thick and almost tangible.

Under Super Sensation, Chu Zhiyuan realized this force closely resembled the Primal Qi absorbed by the Earthly Yuan Art.

This Thick Earth Sect was no mere charlatan act; they had real skill. No wonder their followers kept growing, and the sect itself expanded.

The High Ritual Elder suddenly let out a long cry: "Heaven above, Earth below, peace across the four seas, rest to the ten thousand people, incense eternal, unchanging for ten thousand ages, immeasurable Earth Venerable!... Immeasurable Earth Venerable!... Im! meas! ur! able! Earth! Ven! er! able!"

His voice rose higher and higher, like a great bell or bronze cauldron, shaking the surroundings.

The surging power within him exploded.

A fierce wind howled, dust flying.

For ten zhang around him, not a speck of dust remained.

"Immeasurable Earth Venerable..." The High Ritual Elder's voice sank low. He pressed his palms together and bowed once to each of the four directions, then retrieved his golden wooden sword.

Chu Zhiyuan opened his eyes and pressed his palms together in a salute. "Boundless Earth Venerable."

"Boundless Earth Venerable." The elders and disciples of the Flying Flower Sword Sect joined their hands in unison.

Chu Zhiyuan stepped forward. "Elder Zhu, you've worked hard."

High Ritual Elder Zhu Yishan returned the salute. "Assistant Director, this old man has completed his task and withdraws. I take my leave."

His expression was cold, a demeanor that pushed others away at arm's length.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded. "Much obliged."

Zhu Yishan strode off with a sweeping gait, two disciples of the Thick Earth Sect following closely behind. The three of them ducked into a nearby alley and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Gao Lingfeng was furious, glaring coldly at their retreating backs.

That bunch from the Thick Earth Sect was far too arrogant, treating a Subordinate Fifth Rank imperial official like this.

They had no regard for the Imperial Court, no regard for the royal nobility.

Chu Zhiyuan's expression remained calm, but inwardly he was also annoyed, filing away a mental note.

With the departure of the Thick Earth Sect's High Ritual Elder, the ceremony was now complete.

Chu Zhiyuan wanted to leave, but Lu Wan and the other three elders earnestly pressed him to stay, saying it was already noon and he should eat before going.

They had already reserved a private room at Flowing Cloud Tower.

Chu Zhiyuan pondered briefly, then agreed.

He also wanted to probe the Flying Flower Sword Sect's depths.

As Assistant Director of the Department of Martial Affairs, he would constantly deal with martial arts sects. Understanding their backgrounds, attitudes, and ideological leanings was extremely important.

If something went wrong, he, as Assistant Director, couldn't escape responsibility—he'd lose all credit and have wasted a year's work.

The group arrived at the third floor of Flowing Cloud Tower and entered an elegant room.

Inside, a round table was set. Chu Zhiyuan and Gao Lingfeng sat down, along with officials from the Imperial Household Department and others.

From the Flying Flower Sword Sect, Lu Wan and the other three elders took seats. The remaining disciples weren't qualified to sit and ate outside.

Once both sides were seated, they exchanged idle chatter, then ate and drank. The other three elders, initially reserved, gradually opened up.

They couldn't help but complain.

They had thought that upon arriving in Yujing City, the Flying Flower Sword Sect would be met with flattery, currying favor, and sycophancy—but instead, they faced cold indifference.

It was like a bucket of ice water dumped over their heads, chilling them to the bone.

They truly couldn't understand why they were treated so coldly. Didn't the world know that the Flying Flower Sword Sect was destined to soar?

If not now, when would they cozy up and ingratiate themselves?

Their complaints made Lu Wan quite embarrassed. She could only remind the three to speak less, then add a few conciliatory words to smooth over the awkwardness.

Chu Zhiyuan made no comment, his expression reserved and aloof.

The dignity of an Heir Apparent's status still had to be maintained. Being approachable had its limits; he couldn't truly lower himself to their level.

He had been observing these people all along.

Of these three middle-aged men, two were genuinely stirred, voicing their grievances from the heart. The third, however, was feigning agitation—actually very calm, putting on a performance.

"Assistant Director, please forgive them. Senior Brother Cheng and Senior Brother Huang have just been holding it in too long," Lu Wan said apologetically.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled. "There are too many masters in Yujing. The people of Yujing have a misconception—that entering Xiantian is as easy as turning over a hand, and reaching Grandmaster isn't that hard either."

Lu Wan and the other four nodded with deep feeling.

Only upon reaching Yujing did one realize how many Grandmasters there were in the world.

Within the Flying Flower Sword Sect, Xiantian was already a master, and Grandmaster was a sect-guarding powerhouse.

But in Yujing City, they learned that Xiantian Masters weren't worth much, Grandmasters were as common as clouds, and only Grandmasters of the highest caliber were truly rare.

Chu Zhiyuan said flatly, "Yujing is fickle and driven by gain. The Flying Flower Sword Sect has produced Grandmaster Song, yes, but Grandmaster Song can't stick his nose into everything. In the end, the sect must rely on itself... Tell me, if the Flying Flower Sword Sect can't help them, why should they bow their heads and humble themselves?"

His gaze swept over Lu Wan and the other four. "Elder Lu, I'm speaking frankly despite our shallow acquaintance. I have some unpleasant things to say."

"Please, Assistant Director, speak your mind." Lu Wan's bright eyes fixed on him.

The other three elders also stared wide-eyed.

Gao Lingfeng and the others looked at him too, curious to hear what unpleasant words this Heir Apparent would utter.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "The disciples of the Four Great Sects work diligently and earnestly in the Imperial Court, never daring to slack off. But look at your Flying Flower Sword Sect disciples—they think even more highly of themselves than the Four Great Sects' disciples!"

With his Super Sensation, he had overheard the Flying Flower Sword Sect disciples' complaints and seen their inflated mindset.

Sudden wealth after long poverty—an inflated mindset was inevitable, an inescapable human flaw.

"..." Lu Wan and the other four fell silent.

Chu Zhiyuan continued, "The Town Martial Division suppresses those in the martial world who commit crimes. Not a single one is weak. Can your sect's disciples truly hold their ground in the Town Martial Division?"

Lu Wan frowned. "We..."

Chu Zhiyuan waved a hand. "A word of advice to you elders: don't send disciples who haven't reached Xiantian into the Town Martial Division, or they'll only be wasted needlessly... These are words I shouldn't have said. But seeing Elder Lu's warm hospitality and the elders' straightforwardness, I've spoken from the heart. Take it or leave it."

"...Many thanks, Lord Chu." Lu Wan rose gracefully and saluted with solemn respect. "I will relay your words to the Sect Leader and the Other Elders."

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head. "Your sect's situation is difficult for now, but the road ahead is bright and broad. There's no need to dwell too much on temporary honor or disgrace. Let's speak of something more cheerful."

"Right, right, let's talk about something cheerful..." Gao Lingfeng hurriedly smiled. "There are plenty of amusing things in Yujing City..."

"Right, right..." The assembled officials chimed in one after another.

After the banquet dispersed and they left Flowing Cloud Tower, on the road back to the Ministry of Rites, Gao Lingfeng couldn't help but remark, "My Lord truly has a benevolent heart."

If it had been himself, he would never have offered such words of guidance. A good intention was more often repaid with resentment, not gratitude.

"I seek only a clear conscience," Chu Zhiyuan said. "We are the Department of Martial Affairs. We can't just stand by and watch them make mistakes that will trouble the Imperial Court."

Gilding the lily is not as good as sending charcoal in a snowstorm. Lending a hand to the Flying Flower Sword Sect would at least leave a favorable impression with Grandmaster Song.