In someone’s Heart Lake.
"Hey, Gui, are you there? Make a sound!"
"You couldn’t still be asleep, could you?"
A voice that had long been silent suddenly arose, "...Zhao Ziyu, can you keep it down? "
Zhao Rong nodded, frustrated, "Oh, you’re awake? How can you even sleep? With the state you’re in, how can you sleep..."
The Sword Spirit interrupted, "This master thinks that this master’s current state is quite good."
Gui yawned lazily, "Yeah, this master has thought it through. Since hurrying won’t make a difference, putting too much pressure on you isn’t good either. Better to let you practice on your own, call me when you reach Fu Yao Realm."
Zhao Rong scratched his nose, "Cough cough, saying that makes me feel a bit embarrassed. I’m just one meridian away, this young master is about to break through it."
Gui replied indifferently, "Oh, good luck with that, take your time, no rush."
Zhao Rong frowned, "... Uh, Gui, are you okay?"
Gui’s voice was somewhat hoarse, "This master is fine, just had a realization. By the way, do you need something? If not, this master is going to sleep."
"Old Gui, don’t scare me. There’s something off about your spirits."
"All notions of ’right’ and ’wrong’ are illusions."
How did he suddenly become so profound?
Zhao Rong raised an eyebrow, fell silent for a moment, then tentatively said, "All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows, like dew and like lightning, and one should view them thus?"
The Sword Spirit was at a loss, thinking about how to respond.
But Zhao Rong was feeling playful and didn’t wait for it.
He continued mischievously, with utmost seriousness, "Like a lotus unfettered by water, and like the sun and moon unbound by the sky..."
Gui hastened to interrupt, "Alright, alright, you’re amazing, now stop reciting that."
Zhao Rong sighed, "Weren’t you the one who started this? Just have a normal conversation, who would drag such things into it... It’s just that I couldn’t hold back for a moment."
Gui sighed, "Alright, alright, let’s not talk about these unnecessary things. Speaking of which, what have you been up to lately?"
Zhao Rong talked about the upcoming examination in Great Li.
"A sealing and sacrifice ceremony?" Gui sounded distinctly uninterested, "A minor kingdom at the foot of a mountain holding a ceremony, such a trifle, uninteresting. This master is going to sleep, call me when you reach Fu Yao Realm."
Zhao Rong held his words back.
Gui directly said, "Before that, um, if you are about to be killed, remember to call this master just before you die, so this master can see who is dispensing justice on heaven’s behalf."
Zhao Rong’s face darkened.
Really? Could you not jinx it?
But the Sword Spirit didn’t wait for Zhao Rong’s reply, simply said ’sleeping,’ and then fell silent.
Zhao Rong curled the corner of his mouth and rubbed his face.
His own Sword Spirit nurtured to such a laissez-faire attitude, that was truly unique.
On this day, it was sunny. Zhao Rongqing got up early to pack his luggage and hurried to the Ritual Hall.
There he met up with Gu Yiwu and the other students from the Justice Hall.
Together, they received new Jade Tokens at the Ritual Hall and completed the necessary procedures to leave the Academy.
Afterward, the steward of the Ritual Hall informed them that Meng Xuezhen had been very busy with the mid-month examinations and also with the Ritual Skill assessments at the Confucian Temple, so she wouldn’t be accompanying the students to Great Li.
Instead, they were told to set off first and make their way to the capital of Great Li, where they would be received by the appropriate officials upon arrival.
However, Meng Zhengjun would also take time to head to Great Li before the students, including Zhao Rong and Gu Yiwu, held their Sealing and Sacrifice Ceremony.
The exact timing was subject to change, and they were instructed to go ahead.
Then, the steward from the Ritual Hall gave them some instructions on what to pay attention to while traveling and let them go.
Great Li was not far, and the travel expenses were covered by the Academy.
Thus, Zhao Rong and the twenty students set off leisurely from the Academy.
The group first stayed in Du You City for a while, preparing and waiting to leave.
Zhao Rong also met up with Qian’er and Li Bai at the agreed-upon location.
These two, according to the identities Zhao Rong had registered, were a Maid and a guard, respectively.
Most of the students from the Justice Hall also brought maids, guards, and other attendants, so Zhao Rong didn’t draw much attention.
The Academy’s Ritual Hall had no particular objections to this arrangement.
In the afternoon, the twenty students gathered, and after ensuring everything was in order, they departed.
At the beginning of the year, when Zhao Rong had just set out for Du You City, the great commotion caused by the Great Demon’s chaos in Zhi Shui Country had gradually subsided by this deep autumn day, leaving only minor ripples that had a lasting impact on the mountains of Wangque Continent.
Now, the northern mountainous transportation of Wangque Continent has largely been restored.
Since the most convenient way via the Li River is one-way, Zhao Rong and the others took the Cloud Sea Ferry.
Departing from outside Du You City, they soon arrived at Tranquility Ferry at the border of Great Li.
There, they disembarked, and following the planned itinerary Zhao Rong had proposed, they set off on foot into Great Li Territory.
On this day, as evening approached.
Amidst the glow of the setting sun, a small town was nestled by the mountains and waters.
This place had stunning mountain peaks, beautiful scenery, mists swirling around, and waterfalls cascading like silk.
It was indeed a place where the essence of heaven and earth was vibrant.
The town was known as Xingzi, surrounded by water on three sides, hugging the mountain and lake.
Legend has it that once, a star fell into the lake.
The lake and the town took their names from this tale.
Now, as the sun set behind the mountains, the dim orange twilight showered down on the bluestone pavement of a large street on the eastern waterfront side of Xingzi Town.