Fairies Are Fierce

Chapter 24: Life is Like Water at the Bottom of Ice

In the Phoenix Valley, the moon shines softly.

Beside the cold pool, there is a small courtyard. Although the environment is elegant, the roaring waterfall outside the window makes it difficult for Zuo Lingquan, who lives here, to fall asleep.

The courtyard is surrounded by bamboo forests, with a simple and elegant environment. Inside the room, there are only a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe, without any other furnishings.

On the table, there is a green lamp, and a sword is placed by the bedside. Zuo Lingquan sits cross-legged on the bed, flipping through the "Qi Cultivation Technique" given by Wu Qingwan.

The Qi Refining techniques of various sects are the foundation of cultivation and cannot be fully recorded in one book. They are usually divided into many volumes.

For example, the "Qi Cultivation Technique" practiced in the Phoenix Valley can only be cultivated up to the sixth level of the Spirit Valley, and crucial parts are missing.

If one wants to learn the later parts, they have to go to the Jinglu Terrace to pay respects to the sect.

The Phoenix Valley works in the same way. The purpose of the scripture room is to preserve the Qi Refining techniques. The "Qi Cultivation Technique" is divided into eighteen parts, and the next part is only given when one reaches a certain level.

In this way, even if a disciple who has left the sect secretly passes it on to their disciple, the highest level their disciple can reach will only be on par with their master. If they want to advance further, they still have to come to the Phoenix Valley to become a disciple.

This can be considered as a way for the major immortal families and prestigious sects to maintain their monopoly position. By casting a wide net, they can save initial investment and also gain the gratitude of low-level cultivators.

Wu Qingwan appreciates Zuo Lingquan very much. The "Qi Cultivation Technique" she gave him records the cultivation methods from the first level "Qi Sea" to the third level "Jiuwei".

After flipping through it for a while, Zuo Lingquan closed his eyes and sat cross-legged on the bed, focusing on sensing the ethereal "qi" between heaven and earth.

Unfortunately, even with the guidance of the cultivation technique, this attempt yielded no difference—no gain at all.

Sitting on the bed for half a day, apart from feeling that the outside waterfall was a bit noisy, Zuo Lingquan didn't feel anything. Sitting with his eyes closed for too long, he became a little absent-minded and inexplicably remembered the incident of tearing Wu Qingwan's clothes in the afternoon.

The two large white masses lingered in his mind, and he subconsciously compared them to Tang Jingyuan and Jiang Yi.

Knowing that he had evil thoughts in his heart, Zuo Lingquan stopped the meaningless meditation, picked up his sword, and walked out of the courtyard to the side of the clear and mirror-like cold pool, starting to practice swordsmanship day after day.

Swoosh—

Swoosh—

On the cliff above the waterfall, Wu Qingwan was also not resting.

After witnessing Zuo Lingquan's swordsmanship, Wu Qingwan searched through her collection of books, trying to find the answer to why she couldn't refine True Qi, but unfortunately, she couldn't find any clues. In the end, she could only sit cross-legged on the stone platform, looking down at the young man and thrusting one sword after another in a rigid manner.

The method of practice is rigid, but Wu Qingwan watches with great concentration.

Because cultivation is like this.

Just as Jiang Yi said, cultivation is actually meaningless.

Everyone in Qihuang Valley seeks "immortality", but the path to immortality is distant and unreachable. Among the three thousand disciples, there is probably not a single person who can truly achieve immortality and eternal youth. Everyone is walking on a path that will never reach its destination, and there can be no slack.

In Qihuang Valley, whether it's the senior disciples or the newly initiated ones, they have to wake up before dawn, follow the cultivation plan set by their masters, practice breathing exercises and meditation, and then complete the tasks assigned by the sect, such as sweeping the floor, weeding, collecting herbs, and patrolling. Day after day, year after year.

Such days are no different from Zuo Lingquan's rigidly stabbing sword after sword. It seems vibrant, but in reality, it is lifeless. They dare not be lazy throughout their lives, and there will be no variables, until one day they achieve enlightenment and soar to the sky, or until they can no longer endure and become disheartened.

Wu Qingwan watches Zuo Lingquan practicing his sword, and she understands why he persists so stubbornly - because she is the same. She hopes that one day she can experience the true freedom of "traveling to the southern mountains in the morning and staying in the northern sea at night".

Whether she can achieve it or not is not important, at least she is still on the road.

Swoosh--

Swoosh--

...

Under the same night sky, the lights in Donghua City are as bright as day.

After the incident at the Yun Tai, Zuo Lingquan's name became well-known within a day.

Compared to the nobles and officials in the capital, the son-in-law who quietly practices swordsmanship in the mountains and fields seems like an outsider on this night.

Life is like water under the ice. Since Zuo Lingquan took his first steps, his gaze has always been on the surface of the ice, not interested in the water flowing beneath day and night. But the water beneath the ice, whether you pay attention or not, always quietly flows.

On the Chongyang Street in the capital, in the residence of Prime Minister Li Jingsi, the lanterns have just been lit and the visiting guests have just left.

Inside the study of the prime minister's mansion, candlelight flickers, casting two silhouettes on the window paper. Their hushed voices faintly echo in the empty courtyard:

"...Princess Chang has chosen the son-in-law, and the Jiang family will definitely make preparations for the wedding. The son-in-law is not someone we can use. We need to find a way to change Princess Chang's choice. If we wait until the wedding is over, knowing Princess Chang's temperament, she won't choose anyone else even if she becomes a widow..."

"...The princess has made up her mind, it may not be easy to change. I have already investigated today, and that Zuo Lingquan has truly been spotless from childhood to adulthood. He is upright, kind-hearted, respects the elderly, loves the young, and abides by the law and etiquette. I've been finding faults all day, but in the end, I even wanted to marry my own daughter to him..."

Clap--

The desk was lightly tapped.

"No one is perfect. Zuo Lingquan is only seventeen years old, not a saint. How could he be without any flaws? A few days ago, he stabbed Cui Shanying on the street, which was an excessive act. Although there were reasons behind it that made it impossible to convict him, it also shows that this young man has an excessive sense of chivalry and is prone to using force to violate the law. Keep a close eye on him and wait for an opportunity to lure him further, so that he can make a big mistake..."

"Li Xiang, this young man is not reckless. Although the stab at Cui Shanying was fierce, it didn't hit any vital points. He showed great restraint. After the incident, the Zuo family sent people to apologize, and Cui Shanying was delighted. He seemed to want Zuo Lingquan to stab him again. This shows that the boy understands the situation. He is ruthless towards those he can provoke, but he won't take the bait from those he can't provoke..."

"Wang Zheng, are you really trying to speak well of him because you want to marry your daughter to him?"

"Sigh~ Li Xiang, you're being too harsh. After what I said today, even if someone wants to marry my daughter, I might not agree..."

Slap--

"I admit my guilt. I will find a way. Li Xiang, please wait for good news..."

...

Compared to the hidden currents in the general's courtyard, the atmosphere inside the imperial city was much more pleasant.

The marriage of the Princess Chang to the husband was a great joy celebrated throughout the country. There were constant singing and dancing in the imperial city. The twelve-year-old emperor, accompanied by eunuchs, set off fireworks outside the study, with a joyful expression on his face. It was unclear whether he was congratulating his sister or secretly happy that his sister was finally getting married.

The study was filled with the fragrance of incense, and there were never-ending memorials on the desk.

Princess Longli, Jiang Yi, dressed in a black and red palace dress, sat behind the desk and reviewed the documents with a pen in hand. She was quite annoyed by the noise outside the window but refrained from scolding the emperor to go back and study. In any case, now that the husband had been chosen, she was truly about to get married.

After getting married, she would eventually leave the imperial city. No matter how much she tried to delay it with excuses, she couldn't delay it for too long. She and her younger brother, who had been dependent on each other, would eventually become two separate families.

In the past, she was strict with her younger brother in order to make him grow up quickly, but Jiang Yi didn't want her brother to only remember her strictness. So in the last period of time, when it was time to relax, she had to relax a bit.

There was a green lamp on the table, and the fire illuminated the neat handwriting on the memorials. But tonight, Jiang Yi couldn't concentrate no matter what. Before the selection of the husband, Jiang Yi only saw it as a troublesome matter. But after the selection, her mentality would inevitably change. Even if she didn't want to think about it, the name "Zuo Lingquan" that she had just become familiar with still lingered in her mind.

Leng Zhu held the documents and stood beside her, seeing the princess raise her hand to rub her temples, and asked with concern, "Princess, are you tired? Should we go back to the palace and rest?"

Jiang Yi put down the golden pen she was annotating with and leaned back in her chair. Her face did look a bit tired. She turned her gaze to the round moon outside the window, remained silent for a moment, and then asked, "Where is Zuo Lingquan?"

"I asked the apprehension department to pay attention. He left the city gate at noon and went in the direction of Qihuang Valley."

"This guy is really proactive..." Jiang Yi muttered softly. After taking a short break, she picked up her pen again and gave instructions, saying, "Write a letter to Auntie and ask her to pay attention to Zuo Lingquan. If he dares to harass our senior sisters or junior sisters, let me know immediately so I can deal with him."

Cold Bamboo had only met Zuo Lingquan once, but she already had some understanding of his character. She spoke softly, saying, "Young Master Zuo would never do such a thing. He is not like those playboys in the capital city who indulge in worldly pleasures."

Jiang Yi was impressed by Zuo Lingquan's ability to win people over. Hearing Cold Bamboo speak well of him, she gave her a sidelong glance and said, "What's this? I haven't even married yet, but your loyal heart as my personal maid has already shifted to the side of the son-in-law? By praising him so much now, are you hoping that in the future, when I enter his household, he will treat you kindly?"

Cold Bamboo and Jiang Yi were the same age, both young girls who had not yet experienced the ways of the world. Blushing, Cold Bamboo replied, "How could that be? I was just speaking the truth."

Jiang Yi knew it was the truth, but she didn't want to hear it. After pondering for a moment, she remembered something about Tang Jingyun and spoke again, "I don't think he's as good as he appears. He spent a night in a tavern in Linhe Alley. A true gentleman would not spend the night in the room of a single woman... Go and find out for me what kind of woman Tang Jingyun is, what she looks like, and what her relationship with Zuo Lingquan is."

Cold Bamboo blinked her eyes, curiously observing Jiang Yi, and somewhat uncertainly said, "Princess, are you... are you jealous?"

Jealous?! Jiang Yi's hand, which was writing, froze for a moment. Then she raised her eyes and said in a frustrated tone, "You foolish girl, why would I be jealous? Am I supposed to be jealous of that Zuo Lingquan? I didn't have a choice, I only chose him because I don't like him. He has ten or eight women outside, and I don't care..."

"I don't care, so why bother investigating Tang Jingyun?" Cold Bamboo asked.

(→_→)

"Cough, it's just the maid being nosy. The princess may not care, but if the son-in-law has a secret affair, I can't keep it from the princess. I'll go and investigate..."

"Forget it, forget it. What's the point of investigating? It's making me feel jealous for real..."

??

(End of this chapter)