Qianzhou.
“Qian” means heaven, and thus the name indicates the vastness of this province.
Connected to Qianzhou is Yunzhou, even closer to the foreign grasslands. Though sparsely populated, it is known for producing excellent horses. The herdsmen there are fierce and hardy, able to herd on foot and fight on horseback.
One region is rich in grain, the other in troops and horses.
With these two provinces, King Wu Ji Yi established a solid foundation, paving the way for future conquests across the land.
On the main road, several donkeys ambled along carrying a Taoist priest and two female Taoists, all appearing quite relaxed and carefree.
Leaving Wu Ming aside for now, Huang Ying and Li Xiuyun had first completed half their mission and then escaped from the certain death of General Han Hulin’s camp, so they naturally felt a sense of liberation.
Wu Ming, having studied history, knew Han Hulin was unreliable. Staying on that ship meant certain death, whether capsized by waves or falling apart on its own. Huang Ying naturally understood this even better.
Now having narrowly escaped death and with the main mission within reach, her mood had lightened considerably. She even occasionally dared to exchange a few words with Wu Ming. In contrast, Li Xiuyun remained strictly respectful, never uttering an unnecessary word. Her cautious demeanor left Wu Ming somewhat exasperated.
“You all listen up… King Wu is merciful and compassionate toward you refugees. He has specially ordered the building of villages, granting twenty mu of land to each family. The tax is set at half the yield per mu. If you farm for five years or have a son who joins the army, the land deed will be granted directly!”
Compared to other provinces, Qianzhou had few refugees, and even fewer abandoned fields, which were being organized and replanted. There was a strong sense of “a new beginning, with all things renewed.”
The journey was quite peaceful, with no foolish bandits or thieves along the way. By afternoon, a large city came into view.
“King Wu’s decree: refugees may go to the nearby camp for settlement. Those wishing to enter the city must pay one coin, though merchants are exempt. Furthermore, armed brawls are strictly forbidden within the city. Offenders will be condemned to hard labor, and repeat offenders will be executed!”
The city official loudly proclaimed the decree, while some ragged refugees were led to the nearby camp, where they were given a thin porridge, bringing a renewed spark of life into their eyes.
“Gathering refugees, emphasizing military affairs, encouraging commerce, and enforcing strict order—indeed, there is a distinct sense of vigor here!”
Wu Ming and the others patiently queued up and entered the city without any trouble. Upon entering, Wu Ming let out a sigh.
“This Zhaixingzi is quite decent. Being a Taoist cultivator of Grandmaster level, he might be worth supporting. At the very least, under his protection, this cycle mission might pass smoothly without danger…”
Huang Ying’s eyes gleamed as she remarked, “Indeed, King Wu truly bears the bearing of a king, the greatest in the world!”
“Haha…”
Wu Ming smiled without comment.
He and Huang Ying had history as their advantage, but others, even cultivators, would likely bow in awe at such a scene.
“Damn it… This Zhaixingzi is completely unresponsive…”
Huang Ying tried a few more times, but seeing Wu Ming still indifferent, she grew secretly anxious: “Could it really come to the point of attending the deadly Jinchi Conference as agreed with Han Hulin? No way… I don’t want to die!”
She silently resolved that if Wu Ming insisted on going, she might have no choice but to attempt an escape.
After all, the mission was already mostly completed, and there was no need to remain in Han Hulin’s camp. What remained was merely a survival task, and she was confident. If necessary, hiding in any deep mountain would ensure her safety.
“Master…”
Huang Ying subtly inquired a few times before finally asking directly, “Where exactly are we going?”
“Of course to Qianzhou’s capital city, the palace of King Wu…”
Wu Ming laughed heartily: “Since my apprentice holds him in such high regard, we should definitely go see… Also, matters of people’s livelihood relate to the fate of the realm. We cannot judge merely by appearances. We must investigate thoroughly. Starting today, we will walk instead of riding, and we must be careful with our money, avoiding any ill-gotten gains. Throw away all the gold and treasures we obtained from the army!”
“Throw them away?”
Huang Ying’s mouth slightly opened in surprise, and even Li Xiuyun beside her looked over in astonishment.
“Every meal and every drink must come from self-reliance, so as not to be entangled by unseen forces!”
Wu Ming rubbed his chin: “You two should also change your appearances, becoming my two young apprentices! Don’t worry, I am skilled in innate divination techniques. Three readings a day will be sufficient for our needs…”
This wasn’t about refusing wealth, but as Wu Ming’s cultivation advanced, he increasingly understood the subtle workings of fate.
They were already outsiders from another world. Accumulating more fortune would attract the attention of the heavenly Dao, especially when they were about to meet a true dragon!
“Ahh…”
Huang Ying let out a groan, clearly foreseeing a bleak future, yet she silently comforted herself: “It’s okay, it’s okay! It’s just a little hardship. As long as we don’t go to the Shijue Pass or attend the Jinchi Conference, everything will be fine!”
“Don’t worry, I’ve calculated the dates. We definitely won’t miss the other ‘Wu’ opportunity at Shijue Pass…”
Just then, Wu Ming said with a half-smile, immediately plunging Huang Ying’s heart into despair…
…
Leye City was the capital of Qianzhou, with roads leading in all directions and convenient waterways.
Under King Wu’s governance, even in times of chaos, Leye City remained prosperous. In fact, due to its stability, it attracted many wealthy families and aristocrats from other provinces, who came to establish estates as a precautionary measure. This not only drove up land prices but also brought new vitality to Leye City.
One day, a Taoist priest, accompanied by two young apprentices, arrived somewhat dusty and weary at the gates of Leye City.
The priest had an ordinary appearance, wearing a black and white Taoist robe with yellowed edges showing signs of dust. The two apprentices behind him were even more unremarkable, their faces sooty and plain. They carried two white banners, one reading “Straightforward and Accurate Divination, Honest for All Ages,” and the other “No More Than Three Readings Per Day.” The calligraphy was powerful and carried a unique charm, all done personally by Wu Ming.
“Master…”
Huang Ying whispered behind him, pleading: “Can’t we do this differently… it feels so embarrassing…”
“What’s wrong with it?”
Wu Ming shook his head dismissively: “Am I a fraud? Haven’t you seen how in previous cities, people first ignored me, then flocked to seek my readings? Learn from Yun’er; look how obedient she is!”
“Ma… Master…”
Li Xiuyun puckered her lips, nervously holding the banners, unable to say much in Huang Ying’s view.
The main gate of Leye City was wide open, with many soldiers patrolling around, yet no entry fee was collected, showing a grand and open atmosphere. Upon seeing Wu Ming and the others, the guards were slightly taken aback, but since Wu Ming had official Taoist credentials and had arranged identities for the two girls beforehand, they were all allowed in without issue.
“The red aura is dense, like the rising sun. Truly a scene of thriving prosperity…”
Wu Ming shook his head and sighed, feigning a scholarly manner.
In his eyes, Leye City indeed lived up to its reputation, being the residence of a true dragon, suppressing and stabilizing the region’s fortune, ensuring peace and prosperity for its people.
“Master, what do we do next?”
Huang Ying asked weakly.
“The usual routine: first find lodging or a place to stay, then look around the streets for some… err! I mean, to help people with their problems!”
Wu Ming looked around, already having assessed most of Leye City’s fortune, and couldn’t help but secretly admire it.
“Hey, you Taoist!”
Indeed, the three of them were quite conspicuous, especially with the banners behind them, drawing immediate attention.
“Did the young master call for this humble priest?”
Wu Ming smiled slightly, examining the person who had blocked their path.
The man wore fine silk clothes, with a cat’s eye-sized green jade on his small hat, shimmering in the sunlight. His skin was pale and smooth, his eyes slightly sunken with dark circles, clearly a rich young man who had lived a life of luxury and indulgence.
“Of course I called you, ‘Straightforward and Accurate Divination’—what a big claim!”
The young master’s peach blossom eyes first swept over Li Xiuyun, but Wu Ming’s disguise was too effective. To others, Huang Ying and Li Xiuyun were just two rough-looking apprentices, not attracting much interest.
The young master naturally glanced over them and pointed at the writing on the banners: “‘Straightforward and Accurate Divination’ I understand, but what does ‘No More Than Three Readings Per Day’ mean?”
“Long Live the Heaven!”
Wu Ming made a respectful bow, his eyes showing a compassionate expression: “The heavenly secrets should not be easily revealed. This humble priest only provides three readings or face readings per day, a method to preserve blessings and protect oneself…”
“I see. Then how about reading my fortune?”
The young master laughed heartily, clearly delighted to find some amusement in his otherwise boring day.
“Young master, your mountain root bears a red aura, and bright yellow directly reaches your hall of fortune, clearly indicating a person of wealth and status…”
As Wu Ming spoke the first few words, the young master sneered, but upon hearing the next sentence, cold sweat began to form on his forehead.
“However, your current appearance is dim and murky, with sunken cheeks tinged with bluish-black, indicating a great calamity… This disaster originates from matters of the heart, but its root lies in your father, almost leading to a bloody disaster. To resolve it…”
Wu Ming paused here, and Huang Ying immediately held up the charity bag.
The young master’s expression turned stormy.
He had a secret, unknown to others, regarding a maid by his father’s side.
But everyone in the household knew that his father was also quite fond of her, almost treating her as both a maid and a concubine. As a son, harboring such feelings was considered a grave disrespect, a violation of filial piety. If exposed, the consequences would be dire…
He immediately took out a silver ingot, about five or six taels, and threw it into the charity bag, asking, “What should I do?”
“Come closer!”
Wu Ming smiled slightly and whispered something into his ear. The young master’s face immediately lit up with joy and bowed gratefully before leaving.
Watching this, Huang Ying and Li Xiuyun exchanged eye-rolls, already accustomed to such scenes.
With Wu Ming’s ability to observe auras and his Taoist techniques, his fortune-telling and face reading were always spot-on. Even with some restraint, his accuracy rate of nine out of ten was impressive enough. If not for the short time, it would be easy for him to gain fame throughout the entire province.
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