Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Feng Qing ordered people to bring Feng Yang back to the family to rest and recover. She excused herself, saying that she had other matters to attend to. Then she brought Zhou Li and Qin Yu with her before leaving in another direction.

In a carriage, Qin Yu realized Zhou Li’s awkwardness. He coughed, “Are you fine?”

With heaven and earth as his conscience, there was no other meaning behind his words. He only used it to break the silence, but in Zhou Li’s ears it sounded especially grating.

Her face flushed red a little and her expression turned cold and desolate. “You don’t need to worry. No matter what happens to me, it has nothing to do with you!”

Qin Yu furrowed his eyebrows before revealing a helpless look. Although he knew she was overthinking things, the more he attempted to explain himself the worse it would become. He nodded and said, “That’s good then.”

Looking at Qin Yu’s expression, Zhou Li moved her lips, thinking that her tone might have been too heavy just now. But after experiencing all of that chaos, her emotions were too sensitive and she didn’t want to delve into the meaning of Qin Yu’s silence.

Qin Yu stood up. “You rest well. I’ll be leaving first.”

He pushed open the door and left. Someone was already waiting outside, ready to lead him to another carriage.

Feng Qing looked at the carriage he entered, a look of understanding in her eyes. She pushed open the door to see Zhou Li.

It was unknown what was said, but Zhou Li’s mood was soon restored. She held onto a newly obtained ice-attribute law formula and fell into thought.

…

The space within the carriage was large, almost as if it were a complete house. Although the decorations inside were ordinary, they were all exquisitely built and the materials used to construct everything were even more sophisticated.

An incense burner was lit and a faint fragrance spread out, filling the air with a scent that invigorated the spirits and brightened the mind.

Qin Yu sat behind a long and narrow table, peacefully holding onto a teapot as he brewed the tea. The incredible shock absorbing abilities of the carriage made it so that no one inside felt any bumps or jolts.

There was a knock on the door. Qin Yu didn’t look up as he said, “Enter.”

There was a creak as the door opened from outside. With its quality of construct, it could have opened without a sound. This sound was only there to serve as a reminder.

Feng Qing stepped inside and respectfully bowed. “I didn’t think that I would be able to see you again in a few short days. It is truly my honor.”

Qin Yu didn’t stop brewing tea. It was only when he poured out two cups that he gestured a hand and said, “Miss Feng Qing, please sit down.” Every action and movement he took made it seem as if he were the master of this place. He was calm and unflustered.

Feng Qing’s eyes flashed with happiness. She earnestly thanked Qin Yu and then sat down, taking a sip of the tea. “To drink tea that you personally brewed is enough to be a point of pride for me.”

Qin Yu said, “Since you helped Zhao Li, this is what you deserve.”

The value of offending the True Wood Sect and causing the future patriarch of the Feng Family to shoulder an ill reputation was actually only a single cup of tea! But in Feng Qing’s eyes, this was normal. Did she expect to obtain the acknowledgement of a Divine Dao expert with something so minor? That was simply the babblings of an idiot!

What she wanted was only an opportunity to speak with this mysterious person.

Qin Yu’s cup of tea represented her having grasped this opportunity.

Feng Qing slowly drank the tea and Qin Yu didn’t hurry her. When she laid down the teacup she respectfully said, “If any of my following words offend you, please forgive me.”

Qin Yu said, “You may speak.”

Feng Qing took a deep breath, “If my guess is correct, then in your current condition you should need some extra assistance right now.”

After she spoke she nervously glanced at Qin Yu.

Qin Yu didn’t acknowledge or deny this. He said, “And?”

Feng Qing said, “Although my cultivation isn’t high, Sky Declaring Pavilion stands behind me. I should be able to provide certain conveniences for you.”

“Why do you think I need your help?”

“Your actions today prove that your strength is far from being restored.” Feng Qing clenched her teeth, “This world is too dangerous. Even a Divine Dao powerhouse has a chance of falling. You will only be able to rest peacefully when your strength has been fully restored.”

Qin Yu’s eyes flashed, like a bolt of lightning crossed the night sky. Feng Qing froze and fear gushed out of her heart.

Had she been too insolent in front of a Divine Dao powerhouse? Even if her hypothesis was correct, it would still be easy for this person to kill her…but, this was a once in a lifetime chance. If she missed out on it she feared she would never come across another one.

After an unknown length of time, when Feng Qing’s mind was on the verge of collapse, Qin Yu’s eyes were restored to tranquility. “Your guess isn’t wrong; I am facing some issues right now. If you can provide sufficient help, I will repay you.”

Success!

Feng Qing let out a light breath, a smile appearing on her pale face. “Of course. Do not worry, I will do everything in my power to help you restore yourself as soon as possible!”

Qin Yu said, “Tell me, what request do you have?”

In this world, there was no such thing as a free lunch.

Feng Qing said in a low voice, “I am hoping that you can help me investigate something. Why does the true master of Sky Declaring Pavilion have such an interest in me?”

Qin Yu didn’t show any surprise. He tapped his fingers against the table, “You think there are some other truths behind this? What evidence do you have?”

Feng Qing shook her head, “I don’t have any. I have tried many methods, but none of them ever come up with anything. In your eyes, you may see me as simply an orphan girl from a fallen family. Just what is so special about me that I can obtain the favor of Sky Declaring Pavilion’s master and even become his spokesperson?”

Qin Yu said, “You are lying.”

Feng Qing’s face stiffened.

Qin Yu stood up. “It seems that there is no longer anything to discuss.”

Feng Qing hurriedly said, “Please quell your anger. I know that I was wrong…I…I only thought that this matter is too strange and eerie.”

She stood up and blocked Qin Yu’s path, a pleading look on her face.

Qin Yu was without expression. “I will give you one more chance. If you still conceal anything, then things will end here.”

“I will tell you everything.” Feng Qing recalled some memories and a look of fear crossed her face. “I remember it very clearly. After I reached 18 years of age and crossed my ritual into adulthood, I would drift off into unconsciousness every night and experience the same dream. In this dream, I was running through a dark forest. But no matter how quickly I ran or how far, I was unable to escape the cold pair of eyes floating behind me.”

She hugged herself, her voice shaking, “It was a pair of white eyes without any other color. Inside those eyes, it was like a deep pool, cold and dead. I could feel greed from the eyes. It wanted to swallow me…yes…it wanted to eat me…”

Dreamland? White eyes?

Qin Yu furrowed his eyebrows. “And what does this have to do with your suspicions?”

Feng Qing was silent for some time. Then she continued to say, “The true master of Sky Declaring Pavilion is wrapped in mystery. Those from the outside believe him to be a thin middle-aged man; no one has seen his true appearance. Several years ago, during a trade fair with a high standard for entry, I inadvertently learned that Sky Declaring Pavilion’s master once had another title…it is the Master of White Eyes.”

All the blood drained from her face.

From Feng Qing’s actions, Qin Yu could determine that she was speaking the truth. His thoughts raced and he said, “I can agree to your condition. Moreover, if I am satisfied with your performance, then I can provide an extra layer of safety to you if it is within my scope of control.”

Feng Qing was overjoyed. “Thank you!” This was an additional request that she had been preparing to ask in the future once she provided a certain degree of assistance. It was wonderful that Qin Yu raised this topic on his own initiative.

Qin Yu said, “There is no need to express thanks. First explain your plan to me.”

Feng Qing’s voice became even more respectful. She said, “Although on the surface it seems that I am the manager of Sky Declaring Pavilion, all of the branch pavilions have their own stewards and there are also Elders patrolling all around; I cannot do anything I please. So, the best method is for you to become a part of Sky Declaring Pavilion. Doing so will help me facilitate further arrangements for you.”

Qin Yu’s eyes flashed. “If your worries are true, then people should be monitoring you in secret. Anything you do will be noticed by others.”

Feng Qing nodded, “You are correct. To avoid being discovered by others, I still need to find an appropriate turning point.”

She paused and then said, “Please allow me the liberty of asking this. While your cultivation is temporarily stranded in an inconvenient place, do you have any other special abilities?”

Qin Yu rubbed his chin. “What is the easiest way to enter Sky Declaring Pavilion?”

“Alchemists and beast trainers! Masters of these aspects have always been scarce!” Feng Qing revealed an awkward expression, “But Sky Declaring Pavilion has extremely high standards. Only those that show a sufficiently splendid performance will be accepted.”

For better or worse, Qin Yu had already spent some time in this world and had come to understand some things. There wasn’t anything to say about alchemy, but a beast trainer was a specific occupation in which a person cultivated and raised formidable monster beasts.

Before his cultivation was restored, he temporarily couldn’t take the path of alchemy. However, he might be able to disguise himself as a beast trainer. Still, he needed to confirm it.

“Give me Sky Declaring Pavilion’s recruiting standards for beast trainers.”

Feng Qing didn’t doubt him. She took out a jade slip and respectfully placed it on the table. Qin Yu’s lips twitched and he said, “Just tell me.”

Revealing an amazed look, Feng Qing paused for a moment before saying, “Beast trainers that enter Sky Declaring Pavilion need to be able to cultivate and raise spirit food by themselves and guarantee that the power of spirit beasts can rise in a stable and controlled manner. Moreover, they need to complete the missions distributed to them every certain period of time.

“If you can enter Sky Declaring Pavilion with the status of a beast trainer, then that would be for the best. This is because when raising spirit beasts, many materials are required to feed them. And at the same time, a cultivator can also use these materials. When reporting the losses and material damages, I will be able to relax the boundaries.

“It’s only…”

Although she didn’t finish speaking, Qin Yu understood her meaning. The stronger the spirit beast that was being cultivated, the more precious materials one could come into contact with. On the other hand, if the standard was average, then the materials would also be the same. To a Divine Dao existence, these materials might be nothing more than chicken feed.

After a short time, Qin Yu had a general idea of the situation. “Very well. I shall use the identity of a beast trainer to enter Sky Declaring Pavilion.”