Nan Commandery was a prefecture located at the border between the northern and central regions of the Great Jin Empire. In terms of area, it ranked among the smallest of the thirty-six major commanderies, but in terms of prosperity, it easily made the top five. The lands under its jurisdiction were mostly plains and waterways, rich in resources, and dotted with numerous spiritual mountains and rivers. It was even common for mortals to witness monks and Daoist immortals soaring through the skies above these sacred peaks. As a result, the commandery was steeped in a fervent culture of Buddhism and Daoism, with temples and monasteries scattered throughout its towns and villages. Whether nobles, wealthy merchants, or humble farmers, all held these traditions in the highest reverence.
Beyond Buddhism and Daoism, the commandery also boasted an unusually high number of academies, visible in every city, town, and village.
These academies were clearly stratified into different tiers. The highest-tier academies were taught by renowned Confucian scholars who lectured on the Four Books and Five Classics, catering exclusively to the children of high-ranking officials. The lowest-tier private schools, on the other hand, were run by ordinary Confucian scholars who only taught basic Confucian principles and introductory texts. However, if a particularly talented student was discovered, they would be recommended to a higher-tier academy—an invaluable opportunity for children of the poor to rise above their station.
After all, Confucian scholars who graduated from high-tier academies were highly sought after by the upper echelons of the Great Jin Empire. Those from the very top academies were even eagerly recruited by provincial governors and noble families.
The prefectural capital of Taichang was one such city teeming with academies.
Though not as renowned as the top-ranked Wuguang City, within Nan Commandery, Taichang was the city with the highest concentration of high-ranking officials, nobles, and wealthy merchants. It housed three or four noble families alone, along with countless mortals engaged in every conceivable trade.
The Gan family, located in the western part of Taichang City, was one of the city’s affluent merchant households. Owning over twenty restaurants across Taichang Prefecture, they would have been considered extraordinarily wealthy in smaller towns. But here, they were merely mid-to-upper-tier among the city’s elite.
Nevertheless, the Gan family owned a sizable mansion in one of Taichang’s wealthier districts, staffed by thirty to forty servants and maids—a considerable estate by any measure.
One day, at high noon, a young man dressed in Confucian robes slowly walked down the street. He appeared to be in his twenties, with a dusty, travel-worn appearance, carrying a long, coarse bundle wrapped in gray cloth on his back.
As soon as he entered the street, his eyes darted left and right as if searching for something. Soon, his gaze landed on the massive black-lacquered gate of the Gan residence, adorned with a grand plaque reading “Gan Manor.” A faint smile crossed his lips.
He strode forward and, after a brief pause to examine the gate, rapped twice on the iron door knocker without hesitation.
Two soft knocks later, hurried footsteps echoed from inside the gate.
The young man seemed momentarily surprised by the swift response, but within moments, the gate creaked open halfway, revealing the face of a middle-aged man dressed in servant’s attire, his expression initially respectful but quickly shifting to suspicion.
“Who are you looking for?” the man asked, straightening up from what would have been a bow, his eyes scrutinizing the young man.
“Is this the residence of Uncle Gan Chi?” the young man clasped his hands and asked with a smile.
“Uncle Gan Chi? Gan Chi is my master’s name. Young master, you are…?” The servant’s initial disdain upon seeing the young man’s attire vanished, replaced by surprise and a newfound politeness.
“I am Han Li, a distant relative of Uncle Gan Chi. I’ve come to pay him a visit,” the young man—Han Li—replied with a smile.
A year had passed since his secluded cultivation. Through diligent practice and the power of the Corpse Pearl and Vajra Relic, he had successfully mastered the first layer of the King of Brightness Art, stabilizing the restless demonic energy within him. Though overjoyed, he wasted no time setting out for the Gan family as planned.
“So it’s Young Master Han. Unfortunately, the master left early this morning to meet friends. The eldest young master is currently in charge. Shall I inform him for you?” the servant hesitated before responding.
“That would be much appreciated,” Han Li said with a faint smile, his expression unreadable.
“Please wait a moment, young master. I’ll return shortly.” The servant bowed and closed the gate, hurrying off to deliver the message.
Han Li stood leisurely at the gate, observing the neighboring mansions and the passing carriages and pedestrians.
Though he hadn’t scanned the city with his spiritual sense, it was clear that there were many cultivators here, concentrated in specific areas, some even of high rank. This piqued his curiosity about how these cultivators integrated into mortal society.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the gate creaked open again. This time, a young man in brocade robes stepped out, followed by the servant from earlier.
“You must be Young Master Han. I am Gan Yu. Though I haven’t heard of any distant relatives, it would be impolite to turn you away. If you don’t mind, please join me in the main hall for a chat,” the young man said courteously after examining Han Li.
“So you are Uncle Gan’s son. Since you’ve extended the invitation, I won’t decline,” Han Li replied without hesitation.
Gan Yu smiled slightly and gestured for Han Li to enter, the black gate closing silently behind them.
…
An hour later, the master of the Gan family—a portly man in his fifties named Gan Chi, dressed in a blue merchant’s robe—returned by carriage.
“Has something happened at home?” Gan Chi asked as soon as he stepped out of the carriage, noticing the gatekeeper’s uneasy expression.
“Master, a young man surnamed Han arrived, claiming to be a relative. The eldest young master has invited him to the main hall, and they seem to be getting along well,” the gatekeeper reported truthfully.
“A relative? Surnamed Han?” Gan Chi paused mid-step, his tone shifting slightly with a trace of suspicion.
“What? Is he an imposter? Should I call the authorities?” the servant asked nervously.
“Whether he’s an imposter remains to be seen. I do recall having such a relative, though it’s been so long, my memory is hazy. Just tend to your duties and don’t meddle,” Gan Chi scolded before striding into the mansion, heading straight for the main hall without even changing his clothes.
Before entering, he heard his son’s laughter from inside: “Brother Han, your understanding of the Four Books and Five Classics is truly impressive! However, regarding that passage about the sages, I believe it should be interpreted this way…” Clearly, the two were deep in discussion.
Gan Chi’s expression darkened slightly, his eyes flickering with unease. But after a moment, he steeled himself and stepped inside.
“Father, this is Young Master Han—” Gan Yu rose respectfully upon seeing his father.
“I’ve already heard from the servants. So you are the young master claiming to be a distant relative. Do you have any letters or tokens to verify this?” Gan Chi cut in, his attention fixed on Han Li as he waved off his son.
Han Li stood and, without a word, reached into his sleeve, producing a gleaming half-piece of white jade pendant, which he handed over.
Gan Chi’s expression shifted dramatically upon seeing the pendant.
After carefully examining it, his face cleared with realization. “So you truly are a descendant of Brother Han. Come with me to the study—I must ask you about my late aunt in detail!” He seized Han Li’s wrist in excitement and led him away, leaving Gan Yu standing bewildered in the hall.
“Aunt? Since when did our family have such a relative?” Gan Yu muttered to himself.
“Greetings, Young Master Han!” Once inside the study, Gan Chi carefully closed the door before bowing deeply to Han Li.
“Rise. There’s no need to question my origins. Just know that from today onward, I am the one responsible for liaising with your family,” Han Li said coolly, flicking his sleeve to release a surge of azure light that gently lifted the old man.
“Yes! The Second Gentleman who previously liaised with our family vanished ten years ago. I was beginning to fear something had happened. Your arrival is most fortuitous,” Gan Chi said, his last doubts dispelled by Han Li’s display of magic.
“My visit here is incidental. I have other important matters requiring your assistance in the mortal world,” Han Li stated firmly, leaving no room for refusal.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage