Chapter 84: A Fine Poem, a Fine Poem

In a certain sense, Liu Ziyu had watched Song Yanqing grow up. Song Yanqing had disliked studying from childhood. Conveniently enough, he cultivated at the Shangqing Sect, so whenever the Song family pressured him to read books, he immediately fled back to the sect. Naturally, Liu Ziyu knew exactly what kind of foundation Song Yanqing possessed. With the Song clan's background, finding someone to ghostwrite a few poems or lyrics was hardly difficult.

One look at the poem in his hand was enough for Liu Ziyu to be certain Song Yanqing had not written it. But the man was already dead. There was no point saying anything now, much less belittling him in front of an outsider.

That said, regardless of whether the poem was truly Song Yanqing's, Liu Ziyu had to admit he was impressed by Lu Shengzhong. The man had actually thought of using scholarly supplies as his point of entry.

At first Liu Ziyu had assumed Lu Shengzhong was simply making excuses. But once he thought about it, wasn't the logic sound?

Shang Chaozong had so many people under him. Brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were indispensable. Using that channel was inconspicuous and unlikely to attract attention. It was an unusually oblique angle of attack. And now someone from Shang Chaozong's side had actually walked into the shop exactly as Lu Shengzhong predicted.

"Borrowing Song Yanqing's poem to avenge Song Yanqing. I suppose that can be called cause and effect coming full circle. May Song Yanqing's spirit in Heaven lend us his protection."

Lu Shengzhong sighed, then said to Liu Ziyu, "This matter cannot be rushed. There are experts from the Tianyu Sect around him, so rushing would accomplish nothing. I hope Brother Liu can show a little patience."

Liu Ziyu nodded.

"Very well. We'll proceed according to Brother Lu's plan."

His attitude had changed because he had now seen Lu Shengzhong's ability for himself. The customer who had just come in to make a purchase proved that Lu Shengzhong's method was not empty talk.

Lu Shengzhong cupped his hands in thanks for his understanding, then asked, "Brother Liu, how many people came with you this time? It would help me plan if I knew what resources we have."

Liu Ziyu said, "There's one senior brother and one senior sister besides me. Both are Golden Core Realm cultivators. When the time comes for them to show themselves, they'll naturally appear."

Lu Shengzhong sighed inwardly. Having power and influence truly made everything easier. To avenge one useless junior member of the Song family, the Liuxian Sect had actually sent two Golden Core Realm cultivators...

At the mountain estate, beneath an old and vigorous tree, warm sunlight filtered down. Niu Youdao stood leaning on his sword with one hand.

There was an indolence in both his bearing and posture, though not laziness. The difference lay in the spirit behind it. His expression calm, he watched the busy group below the embankment. A patch of wasteland had been opened into a vegetable garden.

Yuan Gang was directing the monks of Nanshan Temple as they worked and teaching them how to plant vegetables. The Nanshan Temple monks knew how to grow vegetables, but Yuan Gang's ideas were plainly more advanced. Niu Youdao sometimes wondered whether Yuan Gang would eventually build something like a greenhouse. During the journey, Niu Youdao had told Yuan Gang to gather seasonings for cooking.

Yuan Gang had taken the opportunity to collect quite a few vegetable seeds as well, then had people acquire more after they reached Canglu County. Others might not know it, but Niu Youdao knew Yuan Gang had a particular habit. Wherever he went, he liked planting vegetables.

Yuan Gang did not like sitting cross-legged and cultivating. He preferred doing what he considered meaningful work, such as growing food. In Yuan Gang's eyes, planting vegetables was at least more meaningful than sitting still cultivating.

As for which of those two activities had greater value, Niu Youdao could not argue the matter with him. Everyone had his own ideas and convictions. Nor would Niu Youdao force Yuan Gang to do something he disliked. Of course, planting vegetables could hardly be called a flaw.

Niu Youdao understood that it was a habit Yuan Gang had formed during the collective life he once lived. The group Yuan Gang had belonged to back then had always placed importance on such things. The problem was that vegetables needed time. From sowing seed to harvesting a crop, there was always a growing cycle.

Yuan Gang knew perfectly well that Niu Youdao intended to leave and enter secluded cultivation, yet he had still brought the Nanshan Temple monks out to plant vegetables. Niu Youdao sighed inwardly. Obviously, Yuan Gang believed they would return. From another angle, that proved Yuan Gang subconsciously did not want to leave this place. Niu Youdao found that rather helpless. Some people's views on certain matters could not be reasoned away. He could not tell whether the problem was his or theirs.

Take the monks of Nanshan Temple before him. They had done plenty of things that belonged squarely to the criminal underworld, yet whenever they had time, they never skipped morning or evening prayers in their daily temple routine. They beat wooden fish and recited scriptures, maintaining a life marked by morning bells and evening drums.

Perhaps because Yuan Fang had indoctrinated them for so long, every one of them seemed to think about restoring Nanshan Temple, almost as though it were a shared faith. They killed and set fires, yet refused to eat meat. Niu Youdao found it utterly incredible. They were fucking sick.

A bear demon spent all day thinking about serving the Buddha, constantly talking about building a magnificent Nanshan Temple someday and gilding a golden statue of the Buddha.

A bear demon had gathered a group of monks and kept preaching at them not to forget the Buddha. The whole thing was upside down. If that was not illness, what was? After their long journey, everyone had finally stopped to rest. The moment they settled down, all their individual quirks seemed to emerge at once.

And outside the estate was still that stuttering fool who had been kneeling for several days, irritating enough just to think about... The window stood open. So did the door.

It was a deliberate display of propriety, making it clear that the lone man and woman inside were behaving openly and had nothing improper to hide.

Niu Youdao sat before the dressing table facing the window, watching Shang Shuqing arrange his hair in the mirror. After the first time, the woman had begun appearing outside his door punctually every morning. Niu Youdao had almost started wondering whether a dignified Commandery Princess simply enjoyed doing a maidservant's work.

After several days in a row, he himself was nearly growing accustomed to it, almost as though he truly had a maid attending him. He even found himself wondering whether this woman had taken a liking to him. If that were actually the case, he wanted no part of it. It was not that he judged people purely by appearance, but there still had to be limits. You could not look frightening. That was genuinely difficult to accept.

Still, he understood perfectly well that her unsolicited attentiveness had nothing to do with whether she liked him. She was simply lowering herself as a way of trying to retain a guest. Seeing the kindness of others so clearly was its own kind of trouble. So Niu Youdao pretended not to understand and did not strongly refuse her, lest she overthink matters.

"Master Dao, the preparations are nearly finished. We can leave for the secret realm tomorrow," Shang Shuqing reminded him.

"Oh."

Niu Youdao said calmly, "Good. I understand."

Shang Shuqing had prepared herself for him to ask questions. Instead, his response was that simple.

After a moment of silence, she said, "Master Dao, you're quite good at writing poetry and lyrics."

Again?

Niu Youdao smiled bitterly.

"I really don't know how to write poetry or lyrics."

Shang Shuqing did not argue with him.

"Master Dao misunderstands. I recently came across a new poem. I'd like to ask Master Dao to appreciate it and tell me what you think."

Niu Youdao gave a soft laugh, with a trace of self-mockery.

"Then I'm all ears."

Shang Shuqing continued arranging his hair. After gathering herself briefly, she recited in a soft, lilting voice:

"Once I had known the vast sea, no other waters seemed like water;
Save for the clouds of Mount Wu, no other clouds seemed like clouds..."

She paused. Niu Youdao's seated body had shifted slightly. Then she heard him laugh.

"Not bad. Continue."

Shang Shuqing began again from the beginning.

"Once I had known the vast sea, no other waters seemed like water;
Save for the clouds of Mount Wu, no other clouds seemed like clouds.
Passing through the flowers, I scarcely turn to look—
Half because I cultivate the Dao, half because of you."

She asked, "Master Dao, what do you think of the poem?"

"A fine poem. A fine poem. Not bad, not bad."

Niu Youdao praised it enthusiastically, then looked at the woman reflected in the mirror.

"Where is this Mount Wu mentioned in the poem?"

Shang Shuqing said, "I've never heard of such a place. But there are countless mountains and rivers beneath Heaven. Presumably the poet visited it during his travels. The imagery in the poem makes me long to see the mountain myself. When I have time, I'll ask the poet about it. Once I know the exact location, I can tell Master Dao."

Niu Youdao made a soft sound of acknowledgment.

"When you have time to ask? Is the poet here in Canglu County?"

"That's right. The poem was tucked inside some scholarly supplies we purchased..."

Shang Shuqing briefly explained how the poem had come into her hands, then said with feeling, "Such a fine poem naturally made me ask where it came from. Only then did I learn that it was written by the proprietor of a shop in the county seat called Quiet Ink Studio, which specializes in scholarly supplies. I never imagined such a small county seat would conceal a person of such cultivation and refinement. When I have the chance, I ought to ask him about it in person."

"A refined and accomplished man indeed. If the opportunity comes, I'd like to meet him myself."

Niu Youdao expressed his agreement. Once his hair was finished, he rose and adjusted his clothes. He casually picked up the treasured sword resting nearby and planted it in his hand, then personally escorted Shang Shuqing out.

When they reached the courtyard gate, Niu Youdao suddenly said, "Commandery Princess, could we delay the trip to the secret realm for a little while? I suddenly remembered something I need to handle. Would changing the timing be inconvenient?"

Shang Shuqing froze briefly, but still nodded.

"That's fine. Whenever Master Dao wishes to enter seclusion will do."

She dipped slightly in farewell and left. Niu Youdao watched her go. Then he turned back and walked to Yuan Gang, who was sitting in a pavilion wiping down a dagger. The sheath of the sword in Niu Youdao's hand tapped Yuan Gang lightly on the foot. Yuan Gang looked up and waited for him to speak.

Niu Youdao said calmly, "I just heard a poem. Want to hear it?"

Yuan Gang said nothing. He lowered his head again and continued wiping the dagger, looking as though Niu Youdao could recite it or not as he pleased. Niu Youdao slowly recited:

"Once I had known the vast sea, no other waters seemed like water;
Save for the clouds of Mount Wu, no other clouds seemed like clouds.
Passing through the flowers, I scarcely turn to look—
Half because I cultivate the Dao, half because of you."

"What do you think?"

Yuan Gang did not even raise his head. Only his hand paused briefly.

"Are you really that bored? Is this amusing?"

He might not have Niu Youdao's breadth of old learning, but he was not so ignorant that he had never heard this poem. He too had spent many years working in an occupation connected to antiquities. Niu Youdao lowered his eyes toward him.

"The Commandery Princess just recited it to me. I've never recited this poem to her."

Yuan Gang froze. Slowly, he raised his head.

"You know I don't play at this refined-scholar nonsense."

The meaning was obvious. He had never told Shang Shuqing the poem either.

Niu Youdao said, "Now this is interesting. The Commandery Princess says the poem was written by the proprietor of a scholarly-supplies shop in the county seat. Could someone besides us have come to this world too? It's not impossible. But if another one just happens to appear here in Canglu County as well, that's a little too coincidental."

Yuan Gang looked suspicious.

"Are you certain you never told this poem to anyone else?"

"You've reached the key point."

Niu Youdao slowly turned away and looked into the distance.

"I did tell it to one other person. But that man is already dead. You killed him at Nanshan Temple. His name was Song Yanqing."

It was connected to Song Yanqing, and now it had appeared here in Canglu County. There was hardly any need to guess whom it was aimed at.

With a soft swish, Yuan Gang slid the dagger back into the sheath strapped to his leg and stood, staring at Niu Youdao.

"The shop is called Quiet Ink Studio. Find out what's going on."

Niu Youdao spoke calmly without turning around. Yuan Gang said nothing.

He strode quickly away...

[End of Chapter 84]