"Establishing official positions for martial arts sects? Is this co-option, or a trap?"
Zhang Yuchun asked with a frown. Because of the Wu Baoyu incident, he was deeply suspicious of the current Emperor's actions. He didn't believe this Emperor was benevolent.
If the Emperor had resolved the realm's chaos, it was only because that chaos threatened his imperial authority. Otherwise, why had it persisted for so many years?
Li Qingqiu also felt this matter was not a good thing. Liu Fanzhou was unaware of the things the Emperor had done in pursuit of immortality. Li Qingqiu waved his hand. "This is the Emperor we're talking about. If he wanted to scheme against the martial arts sects, would he go to such trouble? He could simply send troops to suppress them under the pretext of eliminating bandits. Which martial artist hasn't killed before? If judged strictly according to the law, most would face capital punishment. Besides, gathering so many martial arts experts in the palace would also pose a risk to His Sagehood."
Li Qingqiu exchanged a glance with Zhang Yuchun, and they both knew they couldn't explain this matter to Liu Fanzhou.
"Is it compulsory conscription, or voluntary attendance?" Zhang Yuchun continued asking.
Liu Fanzhou smiled. "Naturally, it's voluntary. Forced conscription would indeed suggest something wrong. But the imperial capital is far away. Competing for these official positions comes down to who gets the news earliest and who sets out first."
Li Qingqiu nodded. "Regardless, many thanks to Patron Liu for sharing this news with us."
"You're welcome, you're welcome. We're all family."
Liu Fanzhou waved his hand dismissively. He was shrewd enough to see Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun's resistance to this matter, so he didn't bring it up again.
He began discussing other events in the martial world, and surprisingly mentioned the Juesheng Sect.
"Yan Wujin stormed Iron Moon Peak and defeated all eighteen peak masters, becoming famous in a single battle—truly a contemporary supreme expert. He's established his sect on the borders of Guzhou, called the Juesheng Sect. It's said he already has the support of the Linchuan Tang clan. The Tang clan is one of the four great families of Linchuan—even in Zhongtian Prefecture, they'd rank as a first-rate ancient clan. With the Tang clan's backing, plus Yan Wujin's martial arts, Guzhou's seven great sects will soon become eight."
Liu Fanzhou spoke with emotion, full of admiration for Yan Wujin.
Liu Yan looked at her father, hesitating as if wanting to speak. The entire sect knew about the Juesheng Sect's previous attack.
The Juesheng Sect Master had been defeated by Xu Ning. That battle had instantly elevated Xu Ning's prestige within the sect to its peak, putting her on par with Jiang Zhaoxia. The question of who was stronger between Xu Ning and Jiang Zhaoxia had become a frequent topic of private discussion among the disciples.
Liu Fanzhou looked at Li Qingqiu and smiled. "Sect Master Li, in my view, Guzhou should have nine great sects. The ninth should be Azure Firmament Sect. Why not spread your wings? If you have any need, I, Liu Fanzhou, will certainly offer my full support!"
Having arrived at Azure Firmament Sect this time, he was quite astonished. The changes were enormous—many more disciples. All signs pointed to Azure Firmament Sect having grand ambitions.
Li Qingqiu asked with a smile, "What does 'full support' entail?"
Liu Fanzhou thumped his chest. "I'll support Azure Firmament Sect with my entire fortune. My connections, the favors people owe me—all placed at Azure Firmament Sect's disposal."
"Patron Liu trusts Azure Firmament Sect that much?"
"Heh, Azure Firmament Sect has a certain historical foundation, plus it has the Second in the martial world. Sect Master Li is a young genius, kind and benevolent. How could I not trust Azure Firmament Sect?"
"And what do you want in return?"
"What could I want? What I want has already been fulfilled by Azure Firmament Sect. My daughter is the one I cherish most. Now that she's joined Azure Firmament Sect, helping the sect is helping her."
Liu Fanzhou spoke with genuine emotion, his gaze resting on Liu Yan, filled with paternal love.
Seeing this, Li Qingqiu naturally felt moved by their deep father-daughter bond.
Fifteen minutes later, Liu Fanzhou left with Liu Yan. The father and daughter also needed time alone together.
Li Qingqiu picked up his tea cup and asked, "Second Junior Brother, what do you think of his proposal?"
Zhang Yuchun pondered for a moment. "We can't agree. First, we don't know the full extent of Liu Fanzhou's family situation. It's impossible that Liu Yan is his only daughter. Second, we don't lack his money right now. We're a martial arts sect—wealth is important, but not the most important thing. The Qin family is an example. Recently, Qin Jue wrote to me again, hoping to arrange for more Qin family members to come. Letting Liu Fanzhou get involved would bring no shortage of trouble in the future."
"Good. I thought you might have been won over by him, given your good relationship." Li Qingqiu said with a chuckle. Zhang Yuchun's rationality made him even more confident in entrusting him with authority.
Zhang Yuchun shook his head. "Liu Fanzhou is ultimately a merchant. He treats everyone who might benefit him with equal enthusiasm. I don't delude myself into thinking we're truly brothers despite the age gap."
Li Qingqiu nodded with satisfaction. Li Dongyue couldn't help laughing out loud.
Zhang Yuchun turned to look at her, surprised. "Fourth Junior Sister, what's so funny?"
Li Dongyue suppressed her smile and cleared her throat. "I was just thinking about when we were young. Senior Brother hasn't changed, but Second Senior Brother, you weren't nearly this resourceful before. You used to get tricked by Senior Brother all the time."
Hearing her mention their childhood, Zhang Yuchun's expression turned embarrassed, and he quickly began to protest.
Li Qingqiu suddenly realized that his junior brothers and sisters had grown up.
He was about to turn twenty. Zhang Yuchun would soon be nineteen, and Li Dongyue eighteen.
They were no longer youths; they all had the ability to stand on their own.
For some reason, Li Qingqiu suddenly felt a sense of urgency.
If they couldn't reach the higher Spiritual Consciousness stage, Zhang Yuchun and Li Dongyue would live at most another one hundred twenty or thirty years.
Li Qingqiu pursued immortality, and he hoped his junior brothers and sisters could accompany him further.
The cultivation methods he currently possessed weren't enough to change their fates. He needed Azure Firmament Sect to grow stronger quickly, allowing him to learn more spells and secret arts.
...
This time, Liu Fanzhou didn't hurry down the mountain as before. He said he was tired from trading and wanted to rest for a while.
In the following days, he constantly visited Zhu Yan's courtyard. Unfortunately, no matter how he curried favor, Su Xiling refused to let him in.
Liu Fanzhou ended up staying for half a year.
During those six months, Li Sifeng went down the mountain twice. Apart from Cheng Canghai and Bai Ning'er, he brought back different disciples each time. By leading disciples down the mountain for training, his prestige greatly increased. He was no longer the mischievous boy of before, but a respected Elder.
It wasn't just Li Sifeng. Li Dongyue's disciples also grew more numerous, increasing the number of people in Azure Firmament Sect who could treat patients.
Li Sijin had made considerable progress with the Earth Talisman Codex. She too was teaching disciples talisman-making and spirit plant cultivation, though those disciples didn't yet understand the true nature of their work—they thought it was just the sect's way of making money.
Autumn arrived.
Li Qingqiu stood atop the mountain, hands clasped behind his back, gazing down at the new courtyard below. Zhang Yuchun was personally interviewing those seeking to become disciples.
Li Sifeng and the others were practicing chivalry down the mountain. In every village and town they visited, they generously distributed wealth. In just half a year, Azure Firmament Sect's reputation for chivalry and benevolence began to spread. Finally, people started coming up the mountain of their own accord to seek apprenticeship.
This was a good omen. What kind of famous, great sect personally went down the mountain to recruit disciples?
But Li Qingqiu wasn't happy. His heart was with Jiang Zhaoxia.
Logically, Jiang Zhaoxia at the fifth layer of the Nourishing Origin stage should have been more than a match for the Heavenly Knife Sect. But the martial world was treacherous, human hearts unpredictable. He couldn't help worrying.
Come to think of it, though Jiang Zhaoxia was strong, he always seemed to get injured.
Lost in thought, Li Qingqiu suddenly glanced in a certain direction. A group of government runners was walking up the mountain path, heading toward the mountain gate.
At the front of the group, two people led the way. One was Feng Dai, the Magistrate of Blackstone County. The other wore brocade robes with a blade at his waist. He was handsome and imposing, his aura far stronger than Feng Dai and the others. Feng Dai kept looking back—clearly, this man was someone of significance.
Seeing this, Li Qingqiu turned and leisurely made his way down the mountain.
...
The new courtyard was packed. Besides a dozen or so Azure Firmament Sect disciples watching the excitement, there were also many commoners who had brought their children to seek apprenticeship. The young people seeking to become disciples numbered ten in total.
"Elder Zhang, someone from the imperial court has arrived!"
Yuan Qi hurried into the courtyard and came to Zhang Yuchun's side, speaking quietly.
Zhang Yuchun, who held governing authority, was accustomed to disciples coming to him with matters. Hearing that someone from the imperial court had arrived, he didn't panic. Instead, he instructed, "Yuan Qi, take them to their lodgings. They're provisionally registered as disciples-in-name."
"Yes!"
Yuan Qi immediately turned and led the large, noisy crowd out of the new courtyard. But just as they exited, they saw Feng Dai and his group approaching.
Commoners loved excitement. Seeing a group of officials arrive, they stopped, curious to see what was happening. If Azure Firmament Sect was in trouble with the law, they wouldn't dare let their children become disciples here.
Zhang Yuchun rose, walked around the table, and faced Feng Dai and his party as they entered the courtyard. He immediately raised his hands in salute.
"I am Zhang Yuchun, Governing Elder of Azure Firmament Sect. May I ask why you officials have come?" Zhang Yuchun asked, neither humble nor pushy.
Feng Dai smiled and gestured toward the other man. "This is Lord Jia from the Imperial Protective Guard in the capital. He has come to convey His Sagehood's intent."
His Sagehood's intent?
Zhang Yuchun was surprised. The disciples in the courtyard grew curious. What matter could have reached the Emperor's attention?
The brocade-robed man, named Jia Yi, kept one hand on his sword hilt and the other behind his back. He sized up Zhang Yuchun and asked, "Where is the Sect Master of Azure Firmament Sect?"
Zhang Yuchun replied, "My senior brother is in seclusion cultivating. Even I don't know exactly where he is."
Jia Yi snorted coldly. "Azure Firmament Sect is truly interesting. The Sect Master cultivates, leaving someone as young as you in charge. Enough, I won't waste words. His Majesty has decreed that the sect masters of all martial arts sects under heaven are to proceed to the capital to audience with His Sagehood. Those who distinguish themselves may receive official appointments and establish their names. The Sect Master of Azure Firmament Sect must arrive in the capital before next spring."
Seeing that Jia Yi couldn't even be bothered to take out the imperial edict, Feng Dai understood his attitude toward Azure Firmament Sect. This was also why Feng Dai had insisted on coming.
The Wu Baoyu incident had made Feng Dai worry that Azure Firmament Sect might clash with imperial representatives.
After hearing this, Zhang Yuchun frowned. "Must we go? I heard from others that this wasn't compulsory."
Jia Yi's eyes sharpened. "Who did you hear that from?"
"A friend in the martial world. He heard it from others as well."
"I myself am telling you now. Do you not understand?"
Jia Yi barked. He suddenly raised his hand and reached toward Zhang Yuchun from across the distance. Internal energy burst forth, forming a powerful suction force that pulled at Zhang Yuchun.
Caught off guard by Jia Yi's sudden attack, Zhang Yuchun stumbled forward two steps but managed to steady himself.
Facing this powerful suction, Zhang Yuchun's robes billowed violently, and his sideburns whipped wildly. He frowned at Jia Yi as dust and debris swirled around him. The Azure Firmament Sect disciples quickly scattered, blocking the entrance to the new courtyard.
Jia Yi's expression shifted slightly. He hadn't expected Zhang Yuchun to withstand his Demon-Subduing Art.