Chapter 40

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Amid the vast white expanse, a splash of color moved along.

A carriage, followed by several attendants, made its way forward.

The snow-covered dirt road was difficult to traverse, and the carriage swayed back and forth. Someone lifted the curtain and glanced outside, seeing a few figures dressed as hunters hurrying past. They called out to stop them.

“Excuse me, how far is it to Lu Family Village from here?”

Seeing that the carriage was accompanied by constables, the hunters quickly guessed the identity of those inside and did not dare to be negligent. They pointed in a direction.

“Just follow this road straight ahead. When you reach a fork, take the southwest path, and in less than two li, you’ll arrive.”

“Thank you for the directions!”

The person inside the carriage clasped their hands in thanks, then instructed the constables to continue. Lowering the curtain, he turned to the old man sitting behind a small table and said: “Two more li to go.”

[TL_Note: 1 li = 500 meters so 1 kilometer]

The procession moved forward slowly, the carriage swaying as it went. Chief Registrar Wang Shuhua nodded in acknowledgment. From time to time, he glanced at the distant mountains through the gap in the curtain, the scenery captivating his attention. It had been many years since he had seen such a view. He never expected that after relocating to such a remote area, he would still have the good fortune to witness such beautiful scenery.

“I remember when I still lived in Southern Chen, winters were dry and cold, and it hadn’t snowed for over ten years. Today, heading out to see the snow, I dragged you along, you’re not holding it against me, are you?”

Upon hearing the old man’s words, Zuo Zhengyang, who was kneeling to the side, slightly lowered his head in response.

“Chief Registrar is teasing me. I’ve already handed over my duties and am quite free before the New Year. Being able to enjoy the countryside’s snowy scenery with you, old sir, is something this Zuo could only wish for.”

Next year, he would be promoted to Chief Constable of He Valley Prefecture, a position with far more real power than that of a county chief registrar. Yet there was another reason why Zuo Zhengyang remained so deferential.

“Head Constable Zuo promotion to Chief Constable of He Valley Prefecture wasn’t earned through flattery but through your own genuine abilities.” Wang Shuohua remarked, noticing Zuo Zhengyang’s gaze turned toward him. A slight smile crept across the elder’s lips.

Afterward, he poured a cup of wine for the other person and handed it over, saying:  “Whether you complain or not, people, during their time on this earth, should see everything—earth, mountains, the sound of wind, rain, and people. Otherwise, why else would I be accompanying the county magistrate to this place?”

“Chief Registrar is here to cultivate your reputation. Perhaps it won’t be long before the magistrate is transferred back to the capital.” Zuo Zhengyang said softly as he clinked his cup with the elder’s.

“Haha… you say that as if it’s a simple thing. Returning to the capital won’t be so easy.” The elder raised his wide sleeve to cover his mouth as he finished the wine. “But even so, Head Constable Zuo, look at this place. The scenery is indeed breathtaking. In the grand scheme of things, the world is just a few mountain peaks.”

Zuo Zhengyang was taken aback, and just as he set his cup down, the carriage came to a halt. A constable approached the curtain.

“Chief Registrar, Head Constable, we have arrived at Lu Family Village.”

“So, we’ve arrived without even noticing…” Wang Shuhua shook his wide sleeves and rose from the carriage. Zuo Zhengyang helped the elder down.

The cold wind hit their faces, and before their eyes stretched a series of snow-covered mountain ridges. However, the fields had little snow, and farmers could still be seen working.

The old man adjusted his collar against the cold and gestured invitingly. “Zhengyang, come along. Let’s see for ourselves why people are still working in the fields at this time of year.”

“Yes,” Zuo Zhengyang replied, bowing respectfully before gesturing back: “After you, Sir Shuhua.”

The two of them walked across the narrow path between fields, while the farmers in the distance noticed their arrival along with the nearby carriage and constables. Some put down their tools, standing a little stiffly as they observed the approach of what was clearly an official entourage.

“Folks, don’t be alarmed, we’re merely curious.”Wang Shuhua said gently as they drew closer. His tone was calm and lacked the stern authority typical of his courtroom demeanor. ”Why are you still busy outside at this time of the year? Isn’t spring the usual time for plowing?”

The farmer glanced around at his fellow workers in the fields, unsure how to respond.

“This old gentleman…spring is for planting, yes, but this year is a bit different. I’m digging out trenches ahead of time, so once the water reservoir is completed next year, the fields can get more water from the Qixia Mountain streams.”

“Building a reservoir?”

The elder nodded thoughtfully. “Good thinking.”

With that, he clasped his hands in polite farewell and continued walking along the uneven field paths, heading towards the riverside. In the distance, near a few plots of land by the river, about a dozen men in short tunics were working hard, sweat gleaming on their skin despite the winter chill. They laughed and bantered as they swung their hoes with vigor.

In the cold winter weather, their entire body was drenched in sweat, yet they didn’t feel cold. They occasionally took the towel draped over their shoulders and necks to wipe away the beads of sweat, excitedly chatting and laughing with their companions.

“.…Once we finish digging this, next year should bring a great harvest.”

“You’ve got to give credit to Liangsheng; this idea of his is brilliant. Not only will the reservoir store water, but we can also raise fish and shrimp in it. If we keep livestock on top of that…the days to come will be indescribably beautiful.”

“Indeed, a scholar’s mind is something else. I’ll make sure my own children get taught by Liangsheng someday.”

“…Haha, we folks from the northern village sure are benefiting from his knowledge….”

The laborers’ loud chatter carried easily through the fields even before the elder and his party reached them. The elder’s face broke into a smile as he listened for a moment. He didn’t interrupt their work or investigate further but instead continued his walk with Zuo Zhengyang and the constables toward the riverbank.

The sun shone brightly down upon the rippling waters. Along the riverbank, remnants of thin ice still clung to the edges, while steam rose from the churning currents.

The old man approached the river bank and asked a constable to scoop up a ladle of water to take a sip.

“Cool and sweet as it goes down, with a sweet aftertaste…,”

He let out a soft sigh. He could see that the villagers from the two nearby settlements were still busy, so he composed himself and headed towards Lu Family Village, which was not far away.

During this period, the changes in Lu Family Village were still subtle, but now each household had some spare money. People started thinking about how to repair their houses, and when Wang Shuhua and Zuo Zhengyang arrived, the villagers, young and old, were mostly discussing whose family would renovate first and who would provide the labor.

In the corner of a small courtyard, under the bare cypress tree, a stone table and stone stools had been added. Lu Liangsheng set up his easel, his brush moving swiftly as he sketched. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the winter scenery of the courtyard.

Sun Yingxian was also part of this scene, standing still in a stance, frozen in mid-punch. His eyes blinked repeatedly.

“Are you done yet… I can’t hold this much longer.”

Without lifting his head, Lu Liangsheng continued painting. “A mighty cultivator in the Qi Refinement stage, and you can’t even last one or two hours?”

The Daoist, still frozen in his pose, was incensed at the mention of “one or two hours”.

“One or two hours? From morning until afternoon, count how long it’s been!”

Inside the window, a delicate figure covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. She didn’t fear the cold, but the Toad Daoist, who was lying on the windowsill, wore a small, well-fitted cotton jacket. The sight was rather comical. Lu Xiaoxian had sewn it for him. At first, the toad was adamant about not wearing it, but the weather grew increasingly cold, and he couldn’t resist any longer.

“If you don’t like it, just leave.” The Toad Daoist huffed.

Sun Yingxian turned his face and suddenly started laughing.

“Heh… Your little taunt won’t work on me. In this heavy snow, going out would leave me cold and starving. Only a fool would leave. If I do leave, it’ll be in spring next year when the weather warms up.”

Just as he was speaking, green sprouts suddenly poked through the snow beneath his feet, and flower buds sprouted from the bun on his head. The pink petals lightly bloomed into a delicate flower.

“Hahaha—”

The Toad Daoist, usually not one for laughing, stood up and clutched his belly, bursting into loud laughter.

Sun Yingxian shouted in surprise, frantically trying to pull the flower off his head. No matter how he tugged, it wouldn’t come off, and faint floral scents seeped into his nose and mouth.

He abruptly stopped and looked towards the young man behind the easel.

“Have you entered the Qi Refinement stage?”

“Shouldn’t I have?” Lu Liangsheng’s brush made another stroke, and the green sprouts poking through the snow rapidly grew taller. In the blink of an eye, they shot past the Daoist, growing into lush branches and leaves. Pale white flowers bloomed between the tender green foliage, and before long, the petals fell, giving way to fruit.

Curious, Sun Yingxian reached out to grab one of the fruits. It broke off and landed in his hand, splitting in two as if sliced by a knife.

“Your illusions, combined with your painting skills… I can’t even describe it. If your cultivation improves further, it may be possible to turn illusion into reality.”

He tried to touch the fruit, but his hand passed right through it—it had no substance.

Behind the window, Nie Honglian’s heart was filled with joy. Over the past three months, she had watched Lu Liangsheng progress step by step, discussing the path of cultivation with the Daoist and the Master Toad, practicing diligently every day, and studying books and knowledge deep into the night. Anyone else, even with such determination, would have been physically worn out by now.

Lu Liangsheng also wanted to add some scenery to the painting. Just as he was about to start drawing, he suddenly withdrew his spiritual energy from the painting.

The spring scenery in the courtyard vanished, and Sun Yingxian, about to ask what was happening, paused as his ears twitched. He seemed to understand what was going on as he saw Lu Liangsheng put down his brush.

“We have an honored guest,”

Sure enough, his father’s voice, Lu Laoshi, mixed with another familiar one, drifted towards them.

Lu Liangsheng stood up and walked into the courtyard, bowing to the elderly man he entered the gate.

“Liangsheng, greets his Teacher.”