Make you live in seclusion, make you become younger, make you look good.
Taijing has eighteen city gates, of which about ten are accessible to commoners.
Lincheng Gate is one of the three southern gates and the largest. Outside the city lies the famous Charred Willow Path and Bai Li Pavilion.
Carriages line up at one entrance, while another gate is reserved for officials and nobles.
Arriving at the city gate, Mo Li’s view was blocked by the towering walls, and reluctantly, he turned away, meeting Meng Qi’s thoughtful gaze.
“…”
An indescribable awkwardness ensued, especially as Mo Li noticed many in the approaching carriages were also gazing upwards.
In fact, standing here and gazing at the mountains is known as ‘observing the dragon.’
Some enthusiasts visit different city gates for the best views. The view from within Taijing doesn’t compare to that from the wilderness, and from within the mountains, the dragon is not visible. During the Chen dynasty, a bold man with superb sword skills even broke into the imperial city, climbed up Chengtian Pavilion to observe the dragon, only to find that the closer proximity made the dragon shape less realistic.
Few people can resist being captivated by Shangyun Mountain on their first visit.
“Indeed, it’s the seat of the dragon’s spirit. Taijing’s enduring prosperity through multiple dynasties is due to this.”
“Indeed, having long heard of Shangyun Mountain, seeing it today, it truly is extraordinary.”
Passersby complimented one after another, making the atmosphere between Mo Li and Meng Qi even more awkward.
Finally, Meng Qi broke the silence, coughing and saying, “Speaking of which, I was already in Pingzhou’s Ma County. Just one more mountain away was Zhushan County, and yet I missed seeing the doctor…”
“Brother Meng!”
Mo Li instinctively interrupted Meng Qi, his expression subtle.
What was Meng Qi about to say?
To see the true nature of Qimao Mountain? But Qimao Mountain looked quite ordinary, apart from its spiritual energy.
Mo Li belatedly remembered something crucial.
Qimao Mountain was an ancient name; it should be called Jimao Mountain now. Previously, when discussing with Meng Qi, he didn’t know he wasn’t human and didn’t understand dragon veins, so he only mentioned it briefly.
If Meng Qi had reached Zhushan County, he would have discovered that Jimao Mountain was the most spiritually rich mountain there, and the fact that he was the dragon vein of Jimao Mountain couldn’t be hidden!
Mo Li was annoyed at himself for forgetting such an important matter while planning to introduce Meng Qi to Elder Qin later.
Mo Li was not good at hiding the changes in his eyes, and Meng Qi noticed right away.
However, Meng Qi misunderstood his frustration, thinking it curious why the doctor would be so concerned about the mountain of his birth.
According to the Pingzhou records, there were many mountains nearby, like the Jiguan Mountain in Ma County, Jimao Mountain in Zhushan County, and even barren mountains like Xuan Shi Peak.
Could it be that barren, bare mountain that caused the doctor such concern?
Uh?
The doctor’s original form was a fish, entirely black and hairless. Could it be that…
The mountain was bare, with black stones everywhere, no vegetation, and only a lake with life in it?
Meng Qi wondered if the original form’s hair (or lack thereof) was related to the lushness of the trees.
He tried to recall if his fur was shorter when he transformed into a sand rat in winter, but it was hard to see his reflection clearly in water, and mirrors weren’t helpful. The idea of Mo Li’s birth mountain being barren made Meng Qi feel a bit sympathetic.
No, he shouldn’t be concerned about these things.
How can the doctor be judged by having hair or not? He likes Mo Li, regardless of which mountain’s spirit Mo Li is. Even if it’s a bald mountain, a half mountain, or just a small hill, it’s all the same!
Actually, hair isn’t that important; scales are also good.
Shiny black, with a beautiful luster… and if they were golden, that would be even more attractive.
Meng Qi was somewhat distracted.
Both men were lost in thought when suddenly a shout from behind jolted them: “Hey, are you entering the city or not? Standing still and blocking the way, what are you doing? Two grown men staring at each other, daydreaming? Don’t tell me you forgot to bring your travel permit?”
This shout turned heads all around.
People murmured and pointed.
If Meng Qi hadn’t been good-looking, they might have called the city guards.
“I apologize, my brother and I are out on business and were worried, we got lost in thought,” Mo Li quickly bowed to the crowd and apologized to the man behind them, before pulling Meng Qi back into the queue.
According to the law, those who forgot their travel permits faced penalties, and could be sent back to their place of origin or even face imprisonment.
Meng Qi had a travel permit given to them by Ning Changyuan when they were packing their bags.
There are many types of travel permits. The simplest states ‘someone from a certain county and town wants to go somewhere for some purpose’, with clear details of time and place. However, permits have an expiration date, ranging from one month to a year or two.
After the establishment of the Chu dynasty, the rules around travel permits were slightly relaxed, allowing merchant caravans to travel farther and stay longer in foreign lands. There were also special permits for scholars traveling for study and doctors practicing medicine in nearby counties.
These two types of permits are very strictly controlled, with a limited number issued by the government offices each year.
To obtain a permit for study, one must have the title of scholar. For doctors, the permit requires a guarantee from the government office and local gentry, making these permits as prestigious as a famous doctor’s signboard.
The permit Xue Lingjun forged for Mo Li was for study, valid for three years.
Ning Changyuan usually forged family visit permits, the simplest type.
Once the destination is decided, one can set off with the permit. Although being without a household registration in the new location still makes one an illegal resident, the world has been in chaos for a long time. With continuous natural disasters in the north and endless wars in the south, there are displaced people everywhere. As long as one is honest and capable of working, being accepted by the local community and paying thirty coins can eventually lead to obtaining legal household registration.
Despite the strict controls of various dynasties, only ordinary citizens were always bound to the land. With money to bribe the government offices, getting a travel permit was not difficult.
As Mo Li waited to enter the city, he quietly asked Meng Qi, “Do all those people in the martial arts world have travel permits?”
“Those sects are influential locally and naturally have their ways. As for others, they either steal, rob, or buy them.”
Meng Qi had barely finished speaking when they saw a city gate official interrogating a small merchant caravan ahead.
“Your permit says you’re going from Handan to Wei City to buy cloth, so why are you here in Taijing? You’re not even on the right route. Arrest them!”
The caravan leader pleaded and handed over some copper coins.
“Wei City’s prices skyrocketed, making it impossible to earn money back home, so we had to come to Taijing to sell goods. Please show mercy, officer. We used to do this before…”
“Before is before, now the country is Qi, not Chu anymore,” the gate official weighed the coins, speaking gruffly, “The government recently announced that a notorious thief is trying to sneak into Taijing, so the control is very strict. You’re lucky it’s me; otherwise, you’d be accused of colluding with the thief! Now leave quickly!”
The caravan, experienced in dealing with such situations, quickly understood the official’s hint and hurriedly left with their team.
“And you, your permit lists Chen Mazhi, Wang Siniu, and sixteen others bringing goods into the city. Why is there an extra person?”
“This… we found this person on the road, nearly starving, just asking for a bite to eat.”
The gate official ordered, “I don’t care where this person came from; only sixteen are allowed in. Do you want to be charged with colluding with the thief?”
The sixteen porters, frightened, had no choice but to leave the person they met on the road and enter the city alone.
The man, looking lost and desolate, was immediately escorted away by the gate guards.
Mo Li’s expression changed slightly; this wasn’t a martial artist, but likely a refugee fleeing from Yongzhou.
Taijing citizens with valid permits entered the city with ease.
Mo Li noticed two martial artists among them. How did they acquire their permits? Were there now two Taijing citizens stranded outside or temporarily detained by the gate guards?
Suddenly, Meng Qi took out a hat from his bag and put it on, placing another on Mo Li’s head.
“Brother Meng?”
“I have a feeling we might face some difficulties,” Meng Qi explained.
His premonition quickly came true. When their turn came, Meng Qi presented his travel permit first.
The gate guard ordered Meng Qi to remove his hat for comparison with wanted posters hanging on the city gate. The result was naturally not the same. The gate guard was stunned by Meng Qi’s face and he was about to give way in a daze when the city gate official stepped forward.
“Are you a Taijing resident?”
The gate official, previously lenient with others who had permits, now scrutinized Meng Qi with a stern gaze, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword at his side.
Meng Qi, seeing his posture, wondered if this gate official was actually an undercover imperial guard. He was a little surprised that the matter of the imperial mausoleum alarmed Lu Zhang, and he could still say that it’s reasonable. But was Lu Zhang also aware of the rumors about the “former dynasty’s State Teacher”?
The gate official glanced at the permit handed over by the guard.
—-Meng Qi had previously asked Ning Changyuan to forge a Taijing permit, which Ning initially refused, deeming it unsafe due to Taijing residents attracting more attention. He eventually agreed, considering Mo Li’s medical services to the people.
“Taijing’s Anping Fang, Meng Xuewen… did you steal this permit?” the official accused.
“It’s mine,” Meng Qi replied calmly.
“I don’t think so. Shall we check in Anping Fang if there’s a Meng Xuewen?” the official retorted sharply.
Meng Qi sensed this man wasn’t looking for “Master Meng”; otherwise, he wouldn’t dare to confront him so boldly.
“You are indeed trying to sneak into the city,” the official scoffed. “Who are you really? From Qingcheng Sect? Chunshan Sect? How dare you, people of the martial arts world, act so brazenly in the emperor’s city?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve always lived in Taijing,” Meng Qi insisted, trying to glean information from the official while maintaining his story.
Mo Li felt both worried and found the situation absurd.
The dragon vein of Taijing was being stopped at the city gate?
“Nonsense. In Taijing, there’s no one with your appearance unknown to us guards. You’re definitely not a Taijing resident unless you’ve lived here without ever leaving the city! And there’s not a single handsome man or beautiful woman named Meng in the city!” the official boasted. “So, this permit can’t be yours!”
Mo Li: “…”
Meng Qi: “…”
That wasn’t quite right. He had left the city, possibly by scaling the walls instead of using the gate.
Should he appear as an eighty year old?
Author’s Note:
The gate official is just that, not an imperial guard.
It’s not that Ning Changyuan’s forging skills are lacking.
——————
Make you live in seclusion, make you become younger, make you look good.
Taijing has eighteen city gates, of which about ten are accessible to commoners.
Lincheng Gate is one of the three southern gates and the largest. Outside the city lies the famous Charred Willow Path and Bai Li Pavilion.
Carriages line up at one entrance, while another gate is reserved for officials and nobles.
Arriving at the city gate, Mo Li’s view was blocked by the towering walls, and reluctantly, he turned away, meeting Meng Qi’s thoughtful gaze.
“…”
An indescribable awkwardness ensued, especially as Mo Li noticed many in the approaching carriages were also gazing upwards.
In fact, standing here and gazing at the mountains is known as ‘observing the dragon.’
Some enthusiasts visit different city gates for the best views. The view from within Taijing doesn’t compare to that from the wilderness, and from within the mountains, the dragon is not visible. During the Chen dynasty, a bold man with superb sword skills even broke into the imperial city, climbed up Chengtian Pavilion to observe the dragon, only to find that the closer proximity made the dragon shape less realistic.
Few people can resist being captivated by Shangyun Mountain on their first visit.
“Indeed, it’s the seat of the dragon’s spirit. Taijing’s enduring prosperity through multiple dynasties is due to this.”
“Indeed, having long heard of Shangyun Mountain, seeing it today, it truly is extraordinary.”
Passersby complimented one after another, making the atmosphere between Mo Li and Meng Qi even more awkward.
Finally, Meng Qi broke the silence, coughing and saying, “Speaking of which, I was already in Pingzhou’s Ma County. Just one more mountain away was Zhushan County, and yet I missed seeing the doctor…”
“Brother Meng!”
Mo Li instinctively interrupted Meng Qi, his expression subtle.
What was Meng Qi about to say?
To see the true nature of Qimao Mountain? But Qimao Mountain looked quite ordinary, apart from its spiritual energy.
Mo Li belatedly remembered something crucial.
Qimao Mountain was an ancient name; it should be called Jimao Mountain now. Previously, when discussing with Meng Qi, he didn’t know he wasn’t human and didn’t understand dragon veins, so he only mentioned it briefly.
If Meng Qi had reached Zhushan County, he would have discovered that Jimao Mountain was the most spiritually rich mountain there, and the fact that he was the dragon vein of Jimao Mountain couldn’t be hidden!
Mo Li was annoyed at himself for forgetting such an important matter while planning to introduce Meng Qi to Elder Qin later.
Mo Li was not good at hiding the changes in his eyes, and Meng Qi noticed right away.
However, Meng Qi misunderstood his frustration, thinking it curious why the doctor would be so concerned about the mountain of his birth.
According to the Pingzhou records, there were many mountains nearby, like the Jiguan Mountain in Ma County, Jimao Mountain in Zhushan County, and even barren mountains like Xuan Shi Peak.
Could it be that barren, bare mountain that caused the doctor such concern?
Uh?
The doctor’s original form was a fish, entirely black and hairless. Could it be that…
The mountain was bare, with black stones everywhere, no vegetation, and only a lake with life in it?
Meng Qi wondered if the original form’s hair (or lack thereof) was related to the lushness of the trees.
He tried to recall if his fur was shorter when he transformed into a sand rat in winter, but it was hard to see his reflection clearly in water, and mirrors weren’t helpful. The idea of Mo Li’s birth mountain being barren made Meng Qi feel a bit sympathetic.
No, he shouldn’t be concerned about these things.
How can the doctor be judged by having hair or not? He likes Mo Li, regardless of which mountain’s spirit Mo Li is. Even if it’s a bald mountain, a half mountain, or just a small hill, it’s all the same!
Actually, hair isn’t that important; scales are also good.
Shiny black, with a beautiful luster… and if they were golden, that would be even more attractive.
Meng Qi was somewhat distracted.
Both men were lost in thought when suddenly a shout from behind jolted them: “Hey, are you entering the city or not? Standing still and blocking the way, what are you doing? Two grown men staring at each other, daydreaming? Don’t tell me you forgot to bring your travel permit?”
This shout turned heads all around.
People murmured and pointed.
If Meng Qi hadn’t been good-looking, they might have called the city guards.
“I apologize, my brother and I are out on business and were worried, we got lost in thought,” Mo Li quickly bowed to the crowd and apologized to the man behind them, before pulling Meng Qi back into the queue.
According to the law, those who forgot their travel permits faced penalties, and could be sent back to their place of origin or even face imprisonment.
Meng Qi had a travel permit given to them by Ning Changyuan when they were packing their bags.
There are many types of travel permits. The simplest states ‘someone from a certain county and town wants to go somewhere for some purpose’, with clear details of time and place. However, permits have an expiration date, ranging from one month to a year or two.
After the establishment of the Chu dynasty, the rules around travel permits were slightly relaxed, allowing merchant caravans to travel farther and stay longer in foreign lands. There were also special permits for scholars traveling for study and doctors practicing medicine in nearby counties.
These two types of permits are very strictly controlled, with a limited number issued by the government offices each year.
To obtain a permit for study, one must have the title of scholar. For doctors, the permit requires a guarantee from the government office and local gentry, making these permits as prestigious as a famous doctor’s signboard.
The permit Xue Lingjun forged for Mo Li was for study, valid for three years.
Ning Changyuan usually forged family visit permits, the simplest type.
Once the destination is decided, one can set off with the permit. Although being without a household registration in the new location still makes one an illegal resident, the world has been in chaos for a long time. With continuous natural disasters in the north and endless wars in the south, there are displaced people everywhere. As long as one is honest and capable of working, being accepted by the local community and paying thirty coins can eventually lead to obtaining legal household registration.
Despite the strict controls of various dynasties, only ordinary citizens were always bound to the land. With money to bribe the government offices, getting a travel permit was not difficult.
As Mo Li waited to enter the city, he quietly asked Meng Qi, “Do all those people in the martial arts world have travel permits?”
“Those sects are influential locally and naturally have their ways. As for others, they either steal, rob, or buy them.”
Meng Qi had barely finished speaking when they saw a city gate official interrogating a small merchant caravan ahead.
“Your permit says you’re going from Handan to Wei City to buy cloth, so why are you here in Taijing? You’re not even on the right route. Arrest them!”
The caravan leader pleaded and handed over some copper coins.
“Wei City’s prices skyrocketed, making it impossible to earn money back home, so we had to come to Taijing to sell goods. Please show mercy, officer. We used to do this before…”
“Before is before, now the country is Qi, not Chu anymore,” the gate official weighed the coins, speaking gruffly, “The government recently announced that a notorious thief is trying to sneak into Taijing, so the control is very strict. You’re lucky it’s me; otherwise, you’d be accused of colluding with the thief! Now leave quickly!”
The caravan, experienced in dealing with such situations, quickly understood the official’s hint and hurriedly left with their team.
“And you, your permit lists Chen Mazhi, Wang Siniu, and sixteen others bringing goods into the city. Why is there an extra person?”
“This… we found this person on the road, nearly starving, just asking for a bite to eat.”
The gate official ordered, “I don’t care where this person came from; only sixteen are allowed in. Do you want to be charged with colluding with the thief?”
The sixteen porters, frightened, had no choice but to leave the person they met on the road and enter the city alone.
The man, looking lost and desolate, was immediately escorted away by the gate guards.
Mo Li’s expression changed slightly; this wasn’t a martial artist, but likely a refugee fleeing from Yongzhou.
Taijing citizens with valid permits entered the city with ease.
Mo Li noticed two martial artists among them. How did they acquire their permits? Were there now two Taijing citizens stranded outside or temporarily detained by the gate guards?
Suddenly, Meng Qi took out a hat from his bag and put it on, placing another on Mo Li’s head.
“Brother Meng?”
“I have a feeling we might face some difficulties,” Meng Qi explained.
His premonition quickly came true. When their turn came, Meng Qi presented his travel permit first.
The gate guard ordered Meng Qi to remove his hat for comparison with wanted posters hanging on the city gate. The result was naturally not the same. The gate guard was stunned by Meng Qi’s face and he was about to give way in a daze when the city gate official stepped forward.
“Are you a Taijing resident?”
The gate official, previously lenient with others who had permits, now scrutinized Meng Qi with a stern gaze, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword at his side.
Meng Qi, seeing his posture, wondered if this gate official was actually an undercover imperial guard. He was a little surprised that the matter of the imperial mausoleum alarmed Lu Zhang, and he could still say that it’s reasonable. But was Lu Zhang also aware of the rumors about the “former dynasty’s State Teacher”?
The gate official glanced at the permit handed over by the guard.
—-Meng Qi had previously asked Ning Changyuan to forge a Taijing permit, which Ning initially refused, deeming it unsafe due to Taijing residents attracting more attention. He eventually agreed, considering Mo Li’s medical services to the people.
“Taijing’s Anping Fang, Meng Xuewen… did you steal this permit?” the official accused.
“It’s mine,” Meng Qi replied calmly.
“I don’t think so. Shall we check in Anping Fang if there’s a Meng Xuewen?” the official retorted sharply.
Meng Qi sensed this man wasn’t looking for “Master Meng”; otherwise, he wouldn’t dare to confront him so boldly.
“You are indeed trying to sneak into the city,” the official scoffed. “Who are you really? From Qingcheng Sect? Chunshan Sect? How dare you, people of the martial arts world, act so brazenly in the emperor’s city?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve always lived in Taijing,” Meng Qi insisted, trying to glean information from the official while maintaining his story.
Mo Li felt both worried and found the situation absurd.
The dragon vein of Taijing was being stopped at the city gate?
“Nonsense. In Taijing, there’s no one with your appearance unknown to us guards. You’re definitely not a Taijing resident unless you’ve lived here without ever leaving the city! And there’s not a single handsome man or beautiful woman named Meng in the city!” the official boasted. “So, this permit can’t be yours!”
Mo Li: “…”
Meng Qi: “…”
That wasn’t quite right. He had left the city, possibly by scaling the walls instead of using the gate.
Should he appear as an eighty year old?
Author’s Note:
The gate official is just that, not an imperial guard.
It’s not that Ning Changyuan’s forging skills are lacking.
——————
