Chapter 197: Heading South to Anlu

Anlu served as the administrative seat of De’an Prefecture, under the jurisdiction of the Huguang Provincial Government. Originally, the current Emperor Jiajing was the Prince of Xingxian, who established his princely residence in Anlu. Because of this, the emperor showed particular favor to his birthplace, contributing to the region’s thriving economy and flourishing prosperity.

Mei Qing and Bi Zhen had traveled a long way, yet they showed no signs of fatigue or dust. Instead, their clothes were fresh and clean, and their demeanor was calm and composed.

“Qing, what are you thinking about?” Bi Zhen noticed that Mei Qing seemed somewhat distracted and softly asked.

“Twenty years ago, we were both born in this place, though naturally we didn’t know each other back then,” Mei Qing smiled. “Who would have thought that twenty years later, we’d coincidentally meet in the capital, end up married. Don’t you think there’s something fated about all this?”

Bi Zhen nodded and said, “Actually, the first time I saw you, I thought there was something special about you. But back then, I certainly didn’t think about marrying you.”

“If you didn’t want to marry me, why were you sending me flirtatious glances?” Mei Qing teased. “You almost knocked me off my feet with a single look.”

Bi Zhen denied it, exclaiming that Mei Qing was making things up, and playfully punched him repeatedly with her small, delicate fists. The two laughed together on the street, drawing curious glances from passersby.

“Alright, I’ll let you off this time,” Bi Zhen laughed. “So, where shall we go first?”

Mei Qing thought for a moment and replied, “Let’s leave a mark for Hou Shen and the others, then we can go see my father in Tai’an first.”

Bi Zhen lightly hit him again and said, “At least you have a conscience.”

Actually, when Mei Qing came to Anlu this time, both Lu Bing and Uncle Zhong had no objections, considering it natural. Especially Uncle Zhong, who insisted on accompanying Mei Qing. In the end, Lu Bing convinced him otherwise, saying that since the two of them had failed to uncover anything over so many years, their approach must have been flawed. If they followed along, they might interfere with Mei Qing’s efforts. It would be better to let Mei Qing handle things independently, possibly leading to new discoveries.

Despite this, both remained uneasy and sent Hou Shen along with a few others to assist Mei Qing with mundane affairs. Additionally, Uncle Zhong had taken Hou Shen aside privately, whispering something to him in a mysterious manner.

After making their plans, the two left a mark at a prearranged spot near the city gate. In truth, with their cultivation levels, they could have easily communicated with Hou Shen through other means. However, Mei Qing wanted to avoid revealing too much to others, especially since Hou Shen was accompanied by other members of the Jinyiwei. Thus, Mei Qing opted to use standard Jinyiwei methods.

After completing their tasks, the two left the city and found a secluded spot to summon their spirit cranes and set off toward Bi Zhen’s mother’s residence.

Bi Zhen’s mother resided in a cultivation area in the northwest of Anlu, known as Baizhao Mountain. Anlu’s terrain was flat and fertile in the southeast, while the northwest was characterized by continuous mountains and deep valleys, with Baizhao Mountain being one of the most famous scenic spots.

Interestingly, the Mei Valley where Mei Qing’s mother had lived, according to Lu Bing and Uncle Zhong, was also located within Baizhao Mountain. Mei Qing’s decision to visit Bi Zhen’s mother was also motivated by a desire to investigate that cliff in person.

However, Bi Zhen referred to Baizhao Mountain differently from others, calling it “Bi Mountain.”

“Why do you call it Bi Mountain? Just because your name is Bi, do you name the mountain after yourself?” Mei Qing teased.

“Not at all,” Bi Zhen laughed. “You’ve got it backward. Actually, ancient people called Baizhao Mountain Bi Mountain. Later, when I was born here, my mother named me Bi accordingly.”

Ever since Bi Zhen witnessed Mei Qing commanding spirit cranes, she had been fascinated by the technique and eager to learn it. However, this method required a foundation in Shengxiao Thunder Arts, without which it couldn’t be practiced. This left Bi Zhen feeling quite disappointed for several days. Eventually, Mei Qing, employing his utmost skill, used heart-forging techniques to create a spirit crane specifically for Bi Zhen.

The spirit crane Bi Zhen now rode was a gift from Mei Qing. Although it couldn’t be conjured from paper like Mei Qing’s, its appearance and functionality were identical. In terms of conserving spiritual energy and maneuverability, it might even surpass Mei Qing’s.

As a result, Bi Zhen cherished it dearly and constantly practiced flying with Mei Qing along the way.

Unfortunately, Bi Zhen proved to be a rather unskilled pilot. She either flew too high or too low, occasionally crashing into mountains and getting stuck in trees. Once, while attempting fancy maneuvers, her spirit crane flipped over, and only Mei Qing’s quick reflexes prevented them from plunging into the river below for a cold bath.

Bi Zhen was quite upset, accusing Mei Qing of giving her a counterfeit. However, under Mei Qing’s guidance, her skill gradually improved, and her enthusiasm grew, quickly dispelling her anger.

Now, the two leisurely soared between the deep valleys of Baizhao Mountain. It had just passed the New Year, and although Anlu was much warmer than the capital, being in northern Jiangnan meant the weather was still quite cold. Many trees had shed their leaves, and the mountains were a mix of yellow and green. Despite the bright sunshine, the deep valleys carried a chill.

Looking up, Mei Qing vaguely noticed the overlapping eaves and upturned corners of a building atop the mountain and asked Bi Zhen, “Is that where we’re headed, the mountain’s peak?”

Bi Zhen shook her head. “No, that’s the Xuanwu Temple, dedicated to Zhenwu. My mother wouldn’t live there.”

“Zhenwu?” Mei Qing exclaimed in surprise. “Isn’t Wudang the main temple of Zhenwu?”

Bi Zhen laughed. “Just because Wudang has a Zhenwu Temple doesn’t mean Bi Mountain can’t have one too. The current Emperor Taizu and Chengzu both revered Zhenwu, so there are thousands of Zhenwu temples across the country. Although Wudang is the most prominent, many other places have them as well.”

“Ask me why I dwell in Bi Mountain, I smile but do not answer, my heart at ease. Peach blossoms float away with the flowing water; there is another world, not of this mundane realm.”

“Originally, the immortal poet Li Bai also lived here for a while,” Mei Qing remarked in surprise as he read the cliff inscription.

Bi Zhen smiled and said, “Li Bai’s wife was from this area, and he built a house in Bi Mountain, living here for ten years. You’ll see soon enough; actually, my mother’s residence is right next to Li Bai’s old house.”

“You two came to visit me on your happy occasion, which I couldn’t attend, and I had been feeling quite regretful about it. Now you’ve come to see me, saving me from worry,” Bi Zhen’s mother smiled.

Unlike Bi Zhen’s young and eccentric grandmother, her mother was gentle and amiable. However, in terms of appearance, she was somewhat less striking.

Objectively speaking, Bi Zhen didn’t resemble her mother much in looks but was quite similar to her grandmother. Thinking about this, Mei Qing couldn’t help but wonder whether Bi Zhen’s temperament would also follow in her grandmother’s footsteps.

The more he looked at his gentle and serene mother-in-law, the more he felt a sense of danger. Clearly, Bi Zhen’s personality bore no resemblance to her mother’s but was quite similar to her grandmother’s.

Why couldn’t she inherit her grandmother’s looks and her mother’s temperament? Mei Qing mused with a touch of melancholy.

“Mother, look! This is a gift that Qing specially chose for you,” Bi Zhen was clearly delighted. “He made it himself. Isn’t it beautiful?”

Mei Qing had put a lot of thought into selecting a gift for his mother-in-law. After much deliberation, he decided to carve a jade Ruyi himself. He enlisted the help of an old friend to find a piece of ancient jade, and with his profound skill, carving jade was as effortless for him as splitting bamboo.

Bi Zhen was quite surprised and asked when he had learned this skill. Mei Qing thought for a while and answered with four words: “Born with the knowledge.”

“I believe you were born knowing how to wet the bed, but don’t exaggerate about this,” Bi Zhen replied.

However, Bi Zhen clearly appreciated Mei Qing’s craftsmanship and insisted he make her a jade pendant, even forcing him to inscribe several magical arrays on it to ensure it would keep her warm in winter and cool in summer, as well as purify and protect her body. Only then did she let him off the hook.

When Bi Zhen’s mother saw the jade Ruyi, she couldn’t help but glance at Mei Qing with a trace of surprise. Her cultivation was profound, and her standards were exceptionally high. She immediately recognized the Ruyi’s exquisite craftsmanship and its rarity as a magical treasure. Either of these qualities alone would have been remarkable, but the combination of both was truly extraordinary. Upon hearing that it had been crafted by Mei Qing himself, she couldn’t help but view him in a completely new light.

“Bi has always been a mischievous girl, never giving me a moment’s peace. Now that she’s entrusted to you, I hope you can be patient with her,” Bi Zhen’s mother, clearly satisfied with Mei Qing, said with a smile.

Mei Qing nodded repeatedly, secretly amused by how straightforward people in the cultivation world could be, without resorting to excessive flattery. He replied, “Now that I’ve married Zhen, I naturally regard her as a treasure, vowing never to abandon her. Rest assured, Madam.”

Bi Zhen proudly said, “The person I chose can’t possibly be wrong. Mother, you can rest easy.”

Bi Zhen’s mother smiled and shook her head. “Self-praise, and not even embarrassed about it.”

Turning to Mei Qing, she continued, “Lu Bing mentioned that you’ve come here to investigate your origins?”

Mei Qing was taken aback, realizing that Lu Bing must have sent word ahead. He was surprised, though, that she referred to Lu Bing as “Lord Lu.” It seemed that his mother-in-law, though gentle in appearance, harbored resentment even more fiercely than Bi Zhen herself.

Mei Qing nodded. “Indeed. Now that I know my mother’s whereabouts are unknown, how could I, as her child, remain indifferent and do nothing?”

“Good, good,” Bi Zhen’s mother nodded. “I’m glad to see you have such determination. Unfortunately, I don’t know much about what happened back then. In recent years, I’ve been in seclusion, cultivating in peace, so I can’t offer much help. However, I do have a few friends who are familiar with the local geography and culture. If you need assistance, I can introduce you to them.”

Mei Qing was delighted. Although Bi Zhen had never spoken of it, he had guessed that her family background was not simple. Since his mother-in-law was willing to recommend people, she must have confidence in their abilities, and they would likely be of great help to him.

“Alright, you two can rest in the old house today,” Bi Zhen’s mother concluded. “If you need anything, Bi can find her second aunt.”