Chapter 144
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Yuanyang1 Alliance (1)
Jingqi Street was close to the City Lord’s residence, so when Zheng Wan came over on a slugworm, the number of city guards she encountered was nearly three times more than in other places.
As she went deeper into the city, the aura of the cultivators she met became increasingly stronger. Some of the cultivators did not restrain their aura, and when they passed by, they could make others cower; even the slugworm’s hundred feet seem to have wilted a bit.
After getting off the slugworm carriage, she still had to walk for a mile before arriving at No. 1 Jingqi Street.
When Zheng Wan stood before No. 1 Jingqi Street, which occupied almost half of the street, she once again had a full understanding of Cui Wang’s financial resources. The house she lived with her parents now was probably just the size of an entryway here.
To the left of No. 1 was the City Lord’s residence.
Some principles remained the same, be it in the world of mortals or the world of cultivators: every inch of land that was next to the one who was in the centre of power was priced in gold.
By standing there for just a moment, Zheng Wan felt her hair standing on end, as if there were countless pairs of prying eyes hidden in the dark, and if she made any unusual movements, she would be beheaded immediately.
Just then, the tightly shut door opened with a creak.
A wooden puppet cautiously stuck its head out from the inside; a pair of googly eyes rolled around until they finally landed on Zheng Wan, “Is this Zheng Zhenren?”
Before attaining the Accomplisher stage, cultivators did not have cultivator titles and were all addressed by their surnames.
Zheng Wan nodded and the wooden puppet immediately grinned, but his mouth was so big that it almost split his cheeks when he smiled. He took a step back ingratiatingly, “Please come in, Zheng Zhenren.”
Zheng Wan looked at him curiously. Perhaps because Cui Wang didn’t want to blur the lines between puppets and real people, the wooden puppet was not painted and its tree rings could still be seen. She didn’t know what its eyes were made of, but they looked like black agates embedded in pearls of the South China Sea. It’s just that they were a little frightening to look at in broad daylight.
“What’s your name?”
She remembered reading in the “Complete Volume of Culture and Customs” that wood puppets of the highest level were akin to teenagers of about eleven or twelve years old, and had the basic ability to understand and make judgements.
“Zhenjun calls me Ah Wan.”
“Ah Wan?”
Zheng Wan smiled and followed behind the wooden puppet as its wooden legs made “duk duk duk” sounds on the floor.
They went around a landscape wall, passed through some rockery, and walked across a pond. The scenery of the Heavenly Realms was very different from the mortal realm, but even if she had limited knowledge of this world, she could see that the place was full of exotic flowers and plants, and everywhere she looked was a picture.
Ah Wan didn’t speak much, but it would stop and remind her whenever they passed a threshold.
The two walked for a while and stopped in front of a pavilion.
“Zhenjun is waiting for you inside.”
But Zheng Wan was frozen. When she looked at it from a distance just now, she thought she saw trees that were similar to the pink and white crabapple trees of the mortal world. Looking at them up close now, she realised that they were indeed similar, but their trunks were straighter, and they also looked more elegant.
In her trance, she seemed to be back at the State Preceptor’s residence again, where crabapple trees were everywhere. But when she turned around, she remembered the sword blade that was pressed against her throat that day, and how cold it was—
The weak could only stand to suffer.
Zheng Wan lowered her eyes.
Ah Wan bowed and prompted, “Zhenren, Zhenjun is waiting for you inside.”
Only then did she give a slow “Oh” and went up the steps.
Perhaps for the sake of enjoying the scenery, the pavilion was built high up and was a foot above the ground. When Zheng Wan’s silk shoes landed on the ground, she found that when her feet touched the ground, it was actually warm and moist with water vapour—
This place was probably built on top of a hot spring.
She walked slowly to the front of the pavilion and knocked twice.
There was no wind, but the door opened on its own from the inside.
Ah Wan ran away in a lively manner, its feet making “duk duk duk” sounds. Zheng Wan took a deep breath, raised her foot, and stepped across the threshold. She walked around eight floor-to-ceiling screens and saw that in the place decorated with an antique style, a white-robed cultivator was sitting behind a table about ten feet away from her. His ink-black hair hung loose, and his robes trailed on the ground. When he looked up, she met a pair of beautiful black eyes that were as still as ancient wells.
The deep red sandalwood table made the fingers that were toying with a celadon cup seem as clear as jade.
This man was truly beautiful through and through.
“You’re here.”
Cui Wang’s tone was as usual. He didn’t get up and just pointed at the opposite side of the long table. “Sit.”
Zheng Wan lifted her skirts and went over to sit.
The hem of the Heavenly Plume Incandescent Robes fell to the ground, like snow lotus blossoms blooming in an extremely icy land. Cui Wang’s eyes fell on her specially made up face, taking in her delicate eyebrows, long eyelashes, and red lips, before finally going back to those pair of ever-watery eyes.
He averted his gaze and took a sip from his cup.
Zheng Wan detected a familiar smell of wine and only then did she realise that on the table, there was a plate of Hongxin fruit, a plate of golden silk naan, and even...
She poured a glass for herself unceremoniously and took a sip— Pear blossom wine.
Wine of the mortal world.
Zheng Wan had stayed at an inn during the disciple selection and had tasted wine of the Heavenly Realms— it was more pure and mellow, and there was even brought an influx of vital Qi when it entered her bellow. Compared to this Pear blossom wine, it was several times better.
Footnotes:
1 Yuanyang: The Chinese name for mandarin ducks. The Chinese believe that mandarin ducks mate for life, so these birds are traditionally used to symbolise conjugal affection and fidelity. I thought “Mandarin Duck Alliance” sounded like something with Donald Duck and friends, so I kept the transliteration of “Yuanyang” instead.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Yuanyang1 Alliance (1)
Jingqi Street was close to the City Lord’s residence, so when Zheng Wan came over on a slugworm, the number of city guards she encountered was nearly three times more than in other places.
As she went deeper into the city, the aura of the cultivators she met became increasingly stronger. Some of the cultivators did not restrain their aura, and when they passed by, they could make others cower; even the slugworm’s hundred feet seem to have wilted a bit.
After getting off the slugworm carriage, she still had to walk for a mile before arriving at No. 1 Jingqi Street.
When Zheng Wan stood before No. 1 Jingqi Street, which occupied almost half of the street, she once again had a full understanding of Cui Wang’s financial resources. The house she lived with her parents now was probably just the size of an entryway here.
To the left of No. 1 was the City Lord’s residence.
Some principles remained the same, be it in the world of mortals or the world of cultivators: every inch of land that was next to the one who was in the centre of power was priced in gold.
By standing there for just a moment, Zheng Wan felt her hair standing on end, as if there were countless pairs of prying eyes hidden in the dark, and if she made any unusual movements, she would be beheaded immediately.
Just then, the tightly shut door opened with a creak.
A wooden puppet cautiously stuck its head out from the inside; a pair of googly eyes rolled around until they finally landed on Zheng Wan, “Is this Zheng Zhenren?”
Before attaining the Accomplisher stage, cultivators did not have cultivator titles and were all addressed by their surnames.
Zheng Wan nodded and the wooden puppet immediately grinned, but his mouth was so big that it almost split his cheeks when he smiled. He took a step back ingratiatingly, “Please come in, Zheng Zhenren.”
Zheng Wan looked at him curiously. Perhaps because Cui Wang didn’t want to blur the lines between puppets and real people, the wooden puppet was not painted and its tree rings could still be seen. She didn’t know what its eyes were made of, but they looked like black agates embedded in pearls of the South China Sea. It’s just that they were a little frightening to look at in broad daylight.
“What’s your name?”
She remembered reading in the “Complete Volume of Culture and Customs” that wood puppets of the highest level were akin to teenagers of about eleven or twelve years old, and had the basic ability to understand and make judgements.
“Zhenjun calls me Ah Wan.”
“Ah Wan?”
Zheng Wan smiled and followed behind the wooden puppet as its wooden legs made “duk duk duk” sounds on the floor.
They went around a landscape wall, passed through some rockery, and walked across a pond. The scenery of the Heavenly Realms was very different from the mortal realm, but even if she had limited knowledge of this world, she could see that the place was full of exotic flowers and plants, and everywhere she looked was a picture.
Ah Wan didn’t speak much, but it would stop and remind her whenever they passed a threshold.
The two walked for a while and stopped in front of a pavilion.
“Zhenjun is waiting for you inside.”
But Zheng Wan was frozen. When she looked at it from a distance just now, she thought she saw trees that were similar to the pink and white crabapple trees of the mortal world. Looking at them up close now, she realised that they were indeed similar, but their trunks were straighter, and they also looked more elegant.
In her trance, she seemed to be back at the State Preceptor’s residence again, where crabapple trees were everywhere. But when she turned around, she remembered the sword blade that was pressed against her throat that day, and how cold it was—
The weak could only stand to suffer.
Zheng Wan lowered her eyes.
Ah Wan bowed and prompted, “Zhenren, Zhenjun is waiting for you inside.”
Only then did she give a slow “Oh” and went up the steps.
Perhaps for the sake of enjoying the scenery, the pavilion was built high up and was a foot above the ground. When Zheng Wan’s silk shoes landed on the ground, she found that when her feet touched the ground, it was actually warm and moist with water vapour—
This place was probably built on top of a hot spring.
She walked slowly to the front of the pavilion and knocked twice.
There was no wind, but the door opened on its own from the inside.
Ah Wan ran away in a lively manner, its feet making “duk duk duk” sounds. Zheng Wan took a deep breath, raised her foot, and stepped across the threshold. She walked around eight floor-to-ceiling screens and saw that in the place decorated with an antique style, a white-robed cultivator was sitting behind a table about ten feet away from her. His ink-black hair hung loose, and his robes trailed on the ground. When he looked up, she met a pair of beautiful black eyes that were as still as ancient wells.
The deep red sandalwood table made the fingers that were toying with a celadon cup seem as clear as jade.
This man was truly beautiful through and through.
“You’re here.”
Cui Wang’s tone was as usual. He didn’t get up and just pointed at the opposite side of the long table. “Sit.”
Zheng Wan lifted her skirts and went over to sit.
The hem of the Heavenly Plume Incandescent Robes fell to the ground, like snow lotus blossoms blooming in an extremely icy land. Cui Wang’s eyes fell on her specially made up face, taking in her delicate eyebrows, long eyelashes, and red lips, before finally going back to those pair of ever-watery eyes.
He averted his gaze and took a sip from his cup.
Zheng Wan detected a familiar smell of wine and only then did she realise that on the table, there was a plate of Hongxin fruit, a plate of golden silk naan, and even...
She poured a glass for herself unceremoniously and took a sip— Pear blossom wine.
Wine of the mortal world.
Zheng Wan had stayed at an inn during the disciple selection and had tasted wine of the Heavenly Realms— it was more pure and mellow, and there was even brought an influx of vital Qi when it entered her bellow. Compared to this Pear blossom wine, it was several times better.
Footnotes:
1 Yuanyang: The Chinese name for mandarin ducks. The Chinese believe that mandarin ducks mate for life, so these birds are traditionally used to symbolise conjugal affection and fidelity. I thought “Mandarin Duck Alliance” sounded like something with Donald Duck and friends, so I kept the transliteration of “Yuanyang” instead.
Yuanyang1 Alliance 1Jingqi Street was close to the City Lord's residence, so when Zheng Wan came over on a slugworm, the number of city guards she encountered was nearly three times more than in other places.As she went deeper into the city, the aura of the cultivators she met became increasingly stronger. Some of the cultivators did not restrain their aura, and when they passed by, they could make others cower; even the slugworm's hundred feet seem to have wilted a bit.After getting off the slugworm carriage, she still had to walk for a mile before arriving at No. 1 Jingqi Street.When Zheng Wan stood before No. 1 Jingqi Street, which occupied almost half of the street, she once again had a full understanding of Cui Wang's financial resources. The house she lived with her parents now was probably just the size of an entryway here.To the left of No. 1 was the City Lord's residence.Some principles remained the same, be it in the world of mortals or the world of cultivators: every inch of land that was next to the one who was in the centre of power was priced in gold.By standing there for just a moment, Zheng Wan felt her hair standing on end, as if there were countless pairs of prying eyes hidden in the dark, and if she made any unusual movements, she would be beheaded immediately.Just then, the tightly shut door opened with a creak.A wooden puppet cautiously stuck its head out from the inside; a pair of googly eyes rolled around until they finally landed on Zheng Wan, Is this Zheng Zhenren?Before attaining the Accomplisher stage, cultivators did not have cultivator titles and were all addressed by their surnames.Zheng Wan nodded and the wooden puppet immediately grinned, but his mouth was so big that it almost split his cheeks when he smiled. He took a step back ingratiatingly, Please come in, Zheng Zhenren.Zheng Wan looked at him curiously. Perhaps because Cui Wang didn't want to blur the lines between puppets and real people, the wooden puppet was not painted and its tree rings could still be seen. She didn't know what its eyes were made of, but they looked like black agates embedded in pearls of the South China Sea. It's just that they were a little frightening to look at in broad daylight.What's your name?She remembered reading in the Complete Volume of Culture and Customs that wood puppets of the highest level were akin to teenagers of about eleven or twelve years old, and had the basic ability to understand and make judgements.Zhenjun calls me Ah Wan.Ah Wan?Zheng Wan smiled and followed behind the wooden puppet as its wooden legs made duk duk duk sounds on the floor.They went around a landscape wall, passed through some rockery, and walked across a pond. The scenery of the Heavenly Realms was very different from the mortal realm, but even if she had limited knowledge of this world, she could see that the place was full of exotic flowers and plants, and everywhere she looked was a picture.Ah Wan didn't speak much, but it would stop and remind her whenever they passed a threshold.The two walked for a while and stopped in front of a pavilion.Zhenjun is waiting for you inside.But Zheng Wan was frozen. When she looked at it from a distance just now, she thought she saw trees that were similar to the pink and white crabapple trees of the mortal world. Looking at them up close now, she realised that they were indeed similar, but their trunks were straighter, and they also looked more elegant.In her trance, she seemed to be back at the State Preceptor's residence again, where crabapple trees were everywhere. But when she turned around, she remembered the sword blade that was pressed against her throat that day, and how cold it wasThe weak could only stand to suffer.Zheng Wan lowered her eyes.Ah Wan bowed and prompted, Zhenren, Zhenjun is waiting for you inside.Only then did she give a slow Oh and went up the steps.Perhaps for the sake of enjoying the scenery, the pavilion was built high up and was a foot above the ground. When Zheng Wan's silk shoes landed on the ground, she found that when her feet touched the ground, it was actually warm and moist with water vapourThis place was probably built on top of a hot spring.She walked slowly to the front of the pavilion and knocked twice.There was no wind, but the door opened on its own from the inside.Ah Wan ran away in a lively manner, its feet making duk duk duk sounds. Zheng Wan took a deep breath, raised her foot, and stepped across the threshold. She walked around eight floor-to-ceiling screens and saw that in the place decorated with an antique style, a white-robed cultivator was sitting behind a table about ten feet away from her. His ink-black hair hung loose, and his robes trailed on the ground. When he looked up, she met a pair of beautiful black eyes that were as still as ancient wells.The deep red sandalwood table made the fingers that were toying with a celadon cup seem as clear as jade.This man was truly beautiful through and through.You're here.Cui Wang's tone was as usual. He didn't get up and just pointed at the opposite side of the long table. Sit.Zheng Wan lifted her skirts and went over to sit.The hem of the Heavenly Plume Incandescent Robes fell to the ground, like snow lotus blossoms blooming in an extremely icy land. Cui Wang's eyes fell on her specially made up face, taking in her delicate eyebrows, long eyelashes, and red lips, before finally going back to those pair of ever-watery eyes.He averted his gaze and took a sip from his cup.Zheng Wan detected a familiar smell of wine and only then did she realise that on the table, there was a plate of Hongxin fruit, a plate of golden silk naan, and even...She poured a glass for herself unceremoniously and took a sip Pear blossom wine.Wine of the mortal world.Zheng Wan had stayed at an inn during the disciple selection and had tasted wine of the Heavenly Realms it was more pure and mellow, and there was even brought an influx of vital Qi when it entered her bellow. Compared to this Pear blossom wine, it was several times better.Footnotes:1 Yuanyang: The Chinese name for mandarin ducks. The Chinese believe that mandarin ducks mate for life, so these birds are traditionally used to symbolise conjugal affection and fidelity. I thought Mandarin Duck Alliance sounded like something with Donald Duck and friends, so I kept the transliteration of Yuanyang instead.
