Turn the Tables, Ancestor Longyan!

"What is lihui?" Wang Shouzhe set aside his thoughts of maritime trade and asked curiously.

"Lihui is a construction material made by processing oysters, seashells, and the like through kiln-firing," Chen Fanghua explained. "When lihui is blended with river sand in the proper proportions, it binds bricks, tiles, and stone very effectively, making the stone as hard as if it were one whole. It is often used in the city walls of aristocratic clans and government offices. Since production is limited, it is not exactly cheap. Young Master Wang, you must come from a noble family, so it is only natural that you are unfamiliar with such a basic construction material."

"So that was it." Wang Shouzhe seemed to suddenly understand, delighted. "Reading ten thousand books truly cannot compare to traveling ten thousand miles. I have broadened my horizons considerably."

It sounded like some kind of variant cement? Wang Shouzhe pondered it. Why had he never thought of cement before? If they could produce it, even if they did not sell it outside for the time being, it would be immensely beneficial to the clan's infrastructure.

That said, Wang Shouzhe only had a rather vague general idea of how cement was made. Still, as long as they had a general direction and were willing to invest some manpower and funds, producing it would only be a matter of time.

Moreover, concrete structures were extremely sturdy. Whether for building houses or constructing waterworks, they would greatly improve the overall safety of the clan.

At once, Wang Shouzhe added cement to his future research and development plans.

"Young Master Wang, Baidao Guard's finest offerings are its seafood delicacies," Chen Fanghua introduced. "Fresh seafood is exceedingly difficult to store and transport, so most of what reaches the inland is salted and dried. To enjoy seafood, it is best eaten while fresh and alive. Today, I shall make arrangements for Young Master Wang to have a taste..."

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Brother Chen." Wang Shouzhe declined. "But travel at sea is exhausting, and my family is already somewhat fatigued. How about I host you in thanks after we have rested for a few days?"

He and Ancestor Longyan had traveled all the way to Baidao Guard through great hardship, not merely to have a few bites of seafood. Besides, Wang Shouzhe had a bellyful of things he needed to discuss with Ancestor Longyan.

"Then we shall do as Young Master Wang wishes. Still, the Young Clan Leader instructed us to treat our honored guests well, so please do not make things difficult for me. Let the Chen Clan be the host instead," Chen Fanghua said with a smile.

After that, they walked and talked.

Before long, they entered Jinsha City of Baidao Guard. This city stood upon an island, and the rocks used in its construction had all been sourced locally, giving it a rough and rugged air. Wang Shouzhe paid special attention and noticed that the gaps between the stones were filled with some grayish-white calcareous substance. That should have been the lihui Chen Fanghua had mentioned earlier.

Even the main city walls used lihui. This showed that the adhesive made from lihui mixed with sand was exceptionally strong. He just did not know whether it was sturdier than cement concrete and the like.

That question would have to wait until Wang Shouzhe had "developed" cement before it could be verified. For now, he put it aside.

After entering Jinsha City, the group temporarily checked into an upscale inn. With Chen Fanghua, the local snake, handling things, he quickly and familiarly secured a large courtyard residence for Wang Shouzhe's party to stay in first.

The courtyard had seven or eight rooms, and its surroundings were elegant enough to accommodate everyone.

Wang Shouzhe and the others each returned to their rooms to rest and recuperate. He bathed first as well. Only after resting for a little over half an hour did he go next door to visit Ancestor Longyan.

Standing outside the ancestor's door, he knocked softly and called in a low voice, "Ancestor, Shouzhe requests an audience."

After a while, Fourth Aunt Xu Zhirou opened the door. "Shouzhe, the ancestor asks you to enter."

"Fourth Aunt, Eldest Girl. You have both been tired from the journey as well. Go back and rest first. I have matters to discuss with the ancestor," Wang Shouzhe said upon entering.

"Yes, Shouzhe." Xu Zhirou drew herself up and gave a curtsey, then pulled away Wang Lici, who had not yet understood what was happening, closing the door behind them.

Once they had left, Wang Shouzhe walked steadily before Ancestor Longyan and cupped his hands in salute. "Shouzhe greets Ancestor. I have disturbed your cultivation."

Ancestor Longyan's eyes, calm as an ancient well, swept over Wang Shouzhe. She said evenly, "Shouzhe, your posture is solemn and your expression grave. Are you here to persuade me not to sell the Spirit Treasure I carry?"

Wang Shouzhe could not help but smile bitterly. Ancestor Longyan truly struck first. Yet he had already weighed the matter in his heart, so he immediately said seriously, "While reviewing Baidao Guard's intelligence reports earlier, I discovered that Jinsha Island has a famous Black Market. I therefore boldly guessed the purpose of your journey. But Shouzhe has one question: do you intend to sell the Longyan Sword, or the Turtle Scale Treasure Shield?"

Ancestor Longyan's gaze did not ripple in the slightest. "The Turtle Scale Treasure Shield is of no use to me now."

Wang Shouzhe's body trembled, and bitterness flooded his heart. It was the worst of his many speculations. If the ancestor said the Turtle Scale Treasure Shield was useless, that meant the Longyan Sword was still useful.

The treasure shield was for defense, the Spirit Sword for attack. Without doubt, she had abandoned defense and chosen offense.

"Shouzhe shall boldly speculate on your intentions, Ancestor. If I am mistaken, please correct me." Wang Shouzhe pondered before saying, "You intend to sell the Turtle Scale Treasure Shield to gather resources for Shouzhe's advancement to the Spirit Platform Realm. Then, once Shouzhe reaches the Spirit Platform Realm one day, you will act and take one of the Spirit Platform ancestors of either the Zhao Clan or the Liu Clan with you, winning a chance for the clan's future survival!"

By the end, even Wang Shouzhe's voice trembled.

Ancestor Longyan fell silent briefly. Her ethereal eyes remained unmoved. Only after a long while did she slowly shake her head. "Shouzhe, you guessed wrong."

He had guessed wrong?

Instead, Wang Shouzhe felt relief loosen his heart, joy rising to his brow. Thank goodness Ancestor Longyan still had some rea—

But Ancestor Longyan said calmly, "If I wait until that day, I fear I will no longer have the strength to act."

"Ancestor..." Wang Shouzhe's expression changed. Just as he was about to speak, Ancestor Longyan stopped him. "Shouzhe, I know you care for me, but I know my own injuries. I cannot hold on any longer..."

Pain flickered between her brows and vanished in an instant, leaving her calm once more. Her voice was ethereal and distant. "What sort of person is Wang Longyan? Rather than linger on in a miserable existence until I can no longer kill and slowly die away, I would rather use what strength remains to blaze once more like fireworks. I will surely take those two thieves of the Zhao Clan and Liu Clan with me. Shouzhe, rest assured."

Rest assured?

Rest assured my ass!

Wang Shouzhe's heart trembled. He truly wanted to curse. Ancestor Longyan's plan was far too mad; he had to stop her. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Ancestor, even if you succeed, the conventional forces of the Zhao Clan and Liu Clan are still stronger than our Wang Clan!"

"There is the Liu Clan," Ancestor Longyan said calmly.

The Liu Clan... Right, Wang Shouzhe remembered. The Liu Clan's young lady was his fiancée. So that was it. So that was it. When Ancestor Longyan had personally gone to the Liu Clan to propose marriage and find a way to bring this match about, she had already formulated this plan. Once the two were married, the Liu Clan would certainly not stand by and watch the remnants of the Liu Clan and Zhao Clan counterattack.

"In that case," Wang Shouzhe said in a deep voice, "the night of my wedding will be the best time to act. First, the Zhao Clan and Liu Clan will never expect Ancestor to suddenly strike on the night of my wedding. Second, our Wang Clan will be surrounded by guests then, so the Liu Clan and Zhao Clan will not dare counterattack."

Ancestor Longyan's slender body trembled slightly. Then she slowly shook her head. "This plan brings you ill fortune and harms your reputation. Do not mention it again."

Wang Shouzhe smiled. "Ancestor can sacrifice her life for the clan. What are the concerns of a mere junior like Shouzhe?"

"You are still young, and you are the clan's greatest hope for the future," Ancestor Longyan said faintly. "After I die in battle, the Longyan Sword shall be passed down to you. You must send my remains to Purple Mansion Academy and deliver them to my teacher, Master Binglan. Tell her that Wang Longyan was willful for half her life and failed her teacher's grace. I hope that after death, I may return to her fold."

When she had asked Wang Shouzhe to accompany her to Baidao Guard, she had never truly intended to hide it from him. After all, she still needed his cooperation in this matter.

"I understand." Wang Shouzhe solemnly cupped his hands.

"You are no longer trying to persuade me?" Ancestor Longyan found it somewhat strange. According to her original expectations, with Shouzhe's filial nature, he would surely try desperately to dissuade her. She had already prepared to use her status as his ancestor to force him down.

"If there are no other variables, Ancestor's plan is the only one that can let the Wang Clan rapidly turn the tables," Wang Shouzhe said calmly. "Ancestor's injuries have clearly reached the point where they are about to become uncontrollable. With your peerless pride, would you tolerate lying in bed and withering away in pain? To die a glorious and dazzling death, relieving the clan's predicament while allowing the world to remember the splendor of your unmatched grace—that is naturally the best choice."

"Indeed. What Wang Longyan hates most in her life is hemming and hawing, acting like an old woman." A flicker of blazing heat passed through Ancestor Longyan's calm, waterlike eyes. "That you can understand is the thing that brings Wang Longyan the greatest comfort."

"Ancestor, my premise was that only if there are no other variables is your plan the best choice." Wang Shouzhe smiled with a relaxed expression. "I also have a plan. Its final goal is this—Wang Shouzhe will ascend to the Spirit Platform Realm and become a pillar of the clan, while Ancestor Longyan will handle her own affairs. Since you have wronged your teacher, then go apologize to her yourself."

"What?" Even with Ancestor Longyan's control over her state of mind, she was deeply shocked. Disbelief appeared in her eyes.