The Persuader

Liu Yunhe descended Golden Ao Mountain, arrived at the entrance, and exited the formation.

Then the tender green light descended, revealing a middle-aged man in a blue scholar's robe.

He first bowed to Liu Yunhe and said:

"The Vast Righteousness Academy, the Langqiong Zhao, Zheng Xuanzhi have come to pay their respects."

Liu Yunhe knew what was going on; he had heard Daozi mention this person before. So he cupped his hands in response and smiled:

"Liu Yunhe of the Nacheng Liu Household below Qixia Temple has met the instructor."

As Liu Yunhe finished speaking, he turned slightly to the side, smiling broadly:

"Your timing is perfect, Your Excellency. The Pear Garden has just been completed, and Daozi is currently patrolling the mountain with several of his officials. Please follow me."

Zheng Xuanzhi nodded slightly and did not refuse, following Liu Yunhe and entering the mountain gate.

After passing through the mountain gate, Zheng Xuanzhi looked around and exclaimed:

"This place is serene and picturesque, with mountains and water reflecting each other; it truly has the air of a fairyland."

Liu Yunhe and said:

"The instructor is overpraising it; it's merely a place built into the mountainside, barely habitable."

Zheng Xuanzhi shook his head:

"Fellow Daoist, that's not all. A dragon once lived on this mountain, and the story of this place is complicated. A few days ago, a master exorcised a demon, leaving the area around Golden Ao Mountain in ruins. He then stepped in to restore it; otherwise, how could it possess such an ethereal aura?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yunhe was secretly alarmed, but his expression remained unchanged.

"It seems the dragon was wicked, and only a powerful figure stepped in to punish and eliminate it."

Zheng Xuanzhi smiled and said nothing more.

The two then walked up the stone path to the guest hall. Liu Yunhe paused, turned to the side, and said:

"Since you have come from afar, why don't we serve you tea in the guest hall first? I'll go and invite the Daoist priest."

Zheng Xuanzhi nodded.

As soon as Liu Yunhe finished speaking, footsteps came from the top of the stone steps behind him, and Han Ziyi descended.

He stood beside Liu Yunhe, bowed respectfully to Zheng Xuanzhi, and said loudly:

"Han Ziyi the Blackwater Han Household Qixia Temple has met with the Instructor. Daozi already knew of the Instructor's visit and specifically instructed me to come and invite him directly to the pavilion halfway up the mountain for a discussion."

Zheng Xuanzhi was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then smiled and said:

"In that case, please lead the way."

Han Ziyi stepped aside and led the way, with Liu Yunhe on either side, accompanying Zheng Xuanzhi as they continued uphill along the main road.

Walking through the bamboo grove path, several plum trees are in bud, and the blank plaques of the elegant houses recede into the distance.

Before long, the pavilion halfway up the mountain came into view.

Inside the pavilion, Su Yao stood leaning against the railing, twirling a chess piece in his hand, his expression calm.

Upon seeing the three arrive, he turned around, a slight smile playing on his lips, and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Instructor Zheng, how have you been?"

Zheng Xuanzhi quickly returned the greeting, his tone polite. "Fellow Daoist Su, you're too kind. We haven't seen each other for half a year, and I shouldn't have bothered you. But I heard that the Pear Garden has just been established, so I came to offer my congratulations, and also..." He paused slightly, "... there are also some things I'd like to clarify with Daozi in person, to avoid any misunderstandings in the future."

Su Yao smiled faintly upon hearing this, and without pressing further, simply said:

"The instructor is very thoughtful."

He turned his head to look at Liu Yunhe and Han Ziyi, and nodded slightly:

"You may leave now."

The two understood each other, clasped their hands in greeting, and turned to retreat down the stone steps.

The footsteps faded into the distance, leaving only Su Yao and Zheng Xuanzhi in the pavilion.

At this moment, Li Siyi, dressed in a pale yellow dress, emerged from the bamboo path carrying a tea tray, her steps light and slow, and walked to the pavilion.

She first gave Su Yao a slight bow, then placed the tea tray on the stone table. The tea in the celadon teacup was clear and blue, with wisps of white steam rising from it.

"Daozi, the tea is ready," she said softly.

Su Yao nodded:

"That's good, you may leave now."

Li Siyi responded, turned and left, her skirt brushing silently past the edge of the stone steps.

Before long, the figure disappeared.

Silence returned to the pavilion.

Su Yao gestured for Zheng Xuanzhi to sit down, then sat down opposite him. He picked up his teacup and gently stirred the floating tea leaves, but didn't drink it immediately. He just smiled and looked at the person opposite him.

Zheng Xuanzhi then took a sip of tea and smiled again:

"Good tea."

Su Yao shook his head:

"Just some coarse tea from the mountains."

He paused:

"May I ask what brings you here, fellow Daoist?"

Zheng Xuanzhi smiled and said:

"I imagine your villa won't open until next year, and I'll be going to Kunzhou, the provincial capital, to report on my duties after next year. I won't be back until mid-year, so I probably won't be able to make it in time for the grand opening ceremony. I've come to offer my congratulations in advance."

"Oh?" Su Yao gave a half-smile.

Zheng Xuanzhi was not annoyed and continued:

"Fellow Daoist previously destroyed the Lu Household, leaving only the Lu Household's White Sand Mountain. None of the nearby forces dared to touch it or even consider it. But..." He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, "I have several Confucian scholars under my tutelage, originally scions of aristocratic Aristocratic Clan in Langqiong Zhao, who study under me. Their Lineage have their eyes on that White Sand Mountain, wanting to use it as a retreat for secluded cultivation. However, they are struggling to find a way in, and having heard that I had met you once before, they asked me to inquire—whether it is possible to exchange something for White Sand Mountain?"

Su Yao paused slightly in his teacup, looked up at Zheng Xuanzhi with a scrutinizing gaze, and hesitated before saying:

"Is the instructor here to act as a lobbyist for someone else?"

Zheng Xuanzhi quickly waved his hand and said with a wry smile:

"Fellow Daoist, please don't misunderstand. I was reluctant to ask this question, but the ancestors of those families were kind to me when I was studying in my early years. Now that they have come to my door, I can't refuse them, so I shamelessly asked them." He paused briefly, took out a jade box from his sleeve, gently placed it on the stone table, and pushed it towards Su Yao's side.

"This is what they managed to acquire in exchange: a complete Purple Mansion -level Fu Water Item. If you are not satisfied, we can discuss it further."

Su Yao raised an eyebrow slightly. The Fu Water were not particularly precious to him, but the egg from the previous Shengyu was just missing a Fu Water to nourish it and make up for its deficiency.

He reached out and opened the jade box. A warm, moist aura wafted out. Inside the box lay a spirit pearl the size of a goose egg, grayish-white in color, with a watery sheen within.

He closed the jade box but did not accept the gift; instead, he pushed it back.

He secretly thought to himself:

There are other places where we can obtain the Fu Water. However, if those fellow cultivators come in the future and have nowhere to stay, we can renovate White Sand Mountain and give it to them. This way, they won't all have to come to Golden Ao Mountain and crowd together. For example, if there are too many people, there will naturally be too many things to do.

After all, there are few mature, unclaimed spiritual mountains like White Sand Mountain. If those fellow practitioners have nowhere to go for the time being, they will naturally come to Golden Ao Mountain to stay temporarily.

Across from him, Zheng Xuanzhi was taken aback upon seeing this and asked in confusion:

"Fellow Daoist, what is this...?"

Su Yao shook his head, his tone calm:

"They've shown their kindness. However, I have other plans for White Sand Mountain, and I cannot concede to it for the time being."

Zheng Xuanzhi looked disappointed, but he was still unwilling to give up:

"Fellow Daoist, is it because you feel the food isn't enough? They said that if you're not satisfied, you can get more..."

"It's not about the object itself." Su Yao interrupted him, stood up, walked to the pavilion with his hands behind his back, and looked at the remaining crimson of Cibi Lake in the distance. "Although the Lu Household is no longer on White Sand Mountain, the Spirit Vein, formations, and buildings on the mountain are still there. I have my reasons for keeping it."

He paused, turned around, and looked directly at Zheng Xuanzhi:

"Furthermore, are those Confucian scholars under the Instructor truly seeking a life of seclusion, or do they harbor ulterior motives? Although the Lu Household has been destroyed, their relatives and friends still remain. I must be wary."

Zheng Xuanzhi's expression changed slightly, and he quickly explained, "Fellow Daoist, you misunderstand! Those scholars have absolutely no connection with the Lu Household; they simply want to leave a way out for their Lineage... I guarantee with my life that they have no intention of overturning the Lu Household's case."

He thought to himself:

Nanzhao is now in chaos, with the succession of the Nanzhao Kingdom in disarray. Those families that originally depended on the Nanzhao Kingdom for survival are now looking for a way out when they see the situation is not good. The Central Plains and Jiangnan have long been occupied. As for the other border regions, they are either inhabited by powerful demons or wandering sorcerers. These families cannot defeat them, nor can they defend them.

It would be better to find a familiar place that isn't too far away, where we can look out for each other. Therefore, White Sand Mountain is just the right choice.

Su Yao remained silent for a moment, then sat down again, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and spoke in a slightly softer tone:

"I trust the instructor's character. But I do have other plans for White Sand Mountain."

Seeing that Su Yao's expression was genuine, Zheng Xuanzhi cupped his hands and said:

"In that case, I have been presumptuous. Let's drop this matter and I'll go back and tell those scholars to give up on this idea."

Su Yao waved his hand:

"There's no need for such formalities, Instructor. I've just arrived here and am unfamiliar with the place. Besides, the sect may have other arrangements... I'm still not entirely sure. Let them discuss this after the mountain gates are opened."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Xuanzhi's expression softened slightly, and he thought to himself:

"The Upper Sect?" Qixia Temple's Upper Sect only has... No wonder he refused without hesitation today, even though he had heard that this person was searching for Fu Water.

So he raised his cup and said:

"It is true that I did not consider this matter thoroughly."

Su Yao smiled and raised his glass in return.

The aroma of tea wafted through the pavilion, but the two men, each lost in their own thoughts, remained silent.