Chapter 152: Lord of Feng Province
Early the next morning, the Tianshu Academy One line decided to set off for Guiyun Commandery to meet another Disciple.
However, before leaving, he still sent Ji You to meet Xiang Fu again.
Because he felt that Ji You was so handsome and elegant, perhaps he could make that little girl change her mind.
“If he refuses, you can gently pull open your lapel, just like that day—
“You have so many fiancées, I suppose I don’t need to teach you; perhaps you should even rein them in, lest you scare this little girl.”
“?”
Ji You thought to himself, 'Are you trying to kill me? Don't you know that a Wujiang Realm expert hurts more?'
However, when Cao Jinsong threw two taels of silver on the table, he still couldn't resist using his looks as a persuader, but he didn't receive a good reception.
Because Xiang Fu's heart was indeed set on Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion, and yesterday she heard that this group of people was plotting against Fallen Moon Immortal Estate,
She felt extreme disdain in her heart.
In her opinion, Luoyue Mountain Villa, where she had lived since childhood, was a second home, and now these people wanted to seize it, so they were naturally not good people.
“I will not join Tianshu Academy, and I advise you not to plot against Luoyue Mountain Villa.”
Ji You looked at Xiang Fu: “That place is a waste if left empty, and besides, according to qingyun immortal rules, I can indeed use any residence.”
Xiang Fu raised her eyes upon hearing this: “So you are the one who wants to occupy my Fallen Moon Immortal Estate? It’s really funny how you make seizing someone else’s residence sound so grand and righteous.”
“For Feng Province, Fallen Moon Immortal Estate was the one that forcibly occupied this place.”
Xiang Xuan, who was listening outside the door, couldn't help but frown.
Although his heart was set on Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion, he also didn't want to offend Tianshu Academy, so he thought of finding a servant to go in and tell Xiang Fu to clearly express her unwillingness to join Tianshu Academy and that would be that.
However, at this moment, a house servant named Fu Sheng rushed in from outside in a panic.
“Master, someone is visiting.”
Xiang Xuan's expression changed: “Could it be someone from White Cloud Immortal Estate returning?”
The servant immediately shook his head: “It's not White Cloud Immortal Estate, it’s Prefectural Governor Liu, the Prefectural Governor of Feng Province. He also brought his only son, Liu Jianbei, saying he wants to pay respects to the Immortal of Tianshu Academy.”
“?”
A Prefectural Governor is a provincial official, and also an Imperial Censor, holding a much higher official Rank than him, a Prefect.
Moreover, this Prefectural Governor Liu An has a very close relationship with the current Wei Xiang, and can be considered one of his protégés.
A few days ago, His Majesty's new policy was implemented, establishing the Sijian Supervisor, and taking advantage of the internal strife in the cultivation world, Wei Xiang's power was curtailed, causing no small impact.
Liu An had just visited Wei Xiang in the capital and had returned less than two days ago.
Xiang Xuan didn't understand why he came so urgently and specifically requested to see the Immortal of Tianshu Academy, but he still went out to greet him and bowed respectfully.
“Brother Xiang, I, Liu, came in such a hurry this time without notifying you in advance; it’s truly an imposition.”
“Prefectural Governor Liu, what are you saying? Even if you hadn't come, I was planning to pay you a visit.”
“Brother Xiang is too polite, but I presume you already know my purpose. May I ask where the Immortal Elder of Tianshu Academy is now?”
“I have arranged for the Immortal Elders to be in the East Wing.”
“That’s great, then I will take my son to pay them a visit.”
Xiang Xuan looked towards the East Wing: “Do I need to introduce them to Prefectural Governor Liu?”
Prefectural Governor Liu immediately waved his hand: “That’s not necessary, I’ll just take my son over.”
After watching the father and son leave, Xiang Xuan stood in the courtyard, his brows furrowed once again.
It was not uncommon for Mortal officials to visit Immortals on the mountain; after all, although the Qingyun Nine Provinces were all territories of the Great Xia Dynasty, everyone knew that Immortal power was far above Imperial power.
But Liu An, like him, was closer to Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion, so he didn't understand why Liu An was so eager to come pay respects under the cover of night, and even brought his only son.
After pondering for a long time, Xiang Xuan looked at the servant: “Fu Sheng, send a pot of tea over.”
“Yes, Master.”
“When you go, listen to what they are saying, and then report back to me.”
After giving his instructions, Xiang Xuan sat in the courtyard of the East Wing, seeing Fu Sheng bringing tea.
However, he did not rush in, but waited at the door.
Because if he went in now, he would at most hear pleasantries; he had to wait a little longer to potentially hear useful news.
However, while waiting, the door of the East Wing room was suddenly pulled open from inside.
Prefectural Governor Liu’s son walked out from the door, seemingly wanting something, but he was stunned when he saw Fu Sheng outside the door,
Then he waved him inside.
Xiang Xuan picked up his teacup and stared for a long time, not understanding why.
After a while, Fu Sheng came out of the door, the tea tray in his hand empty.
“What are they talking about inside?”
“Prefectural Governor Liu’s son just offered tea to Immortal Elder Cao, and officially became a Disciple of Tianshu Academy—”
Xiang Xuan's mouth fell open, and he was stunned for a long time: “Became a Disciple of Tianshu Academy, did you hear clearly?”
Fu Sheng immediately nodded: “Just now, Young Master Liu came out to offer tea to his Master.”
“?””
Prefect Xiang gripped his teacup, now lost in thought, his eyes filled with endless disbelief.
Prefectural Governor Liu An of Feng Province had always been skilled at maneuvering and cunning. Feng Province was fragmented by countless Immortal Villas, and among them, Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion was stronger due to its geographical location. Liu An knew this better than he did.
From the perspective of Immortal Sects or Millennium Worldly Sect, the barren Feng Province might be far less important than the other eight provinces.
But for Mortal Worldly Sect like them, who had lived in Feng Province for generations, Feng Province was their world, and they naturally had to manage it diligently.
So he couldn't understand why Liu An would suddenly abandon Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion and turn so eagerly to join Tianshu Academy.
Xiang Xuan was puzzled, and then he saw his wife walking over from the front yard, holding a letter in her hand.
“Husband, a letter from my Elder brother.”
“Oh? What for?”
Madam Xiang’s expression was strange: “He said he wants Fu’er to join Tianshu Academy.”
Madam Xiang’s maiden name was Wen, and her Elder brother was also an Elder of an Immortal Villa in Feng Province, a Disciple of Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion.
So for her Elder brother to want his daughter to join Tianshu Academy was truly perplexing.
Xiang Xuan stared with wide eyes for a long time: “Did he say why?”
“Brother said that a local Worldly Family will rise in Feng Province in the future, and that person will come from Tianshu Academy.”
At this moment, in the Prefect’s residence, Cao Jinsong had just finished drinking Liu Jianbei’s tea, Xiang Xuan and his wife entered the side room to read the letter, while Ji You rose from in front of Xiang Fu, intending to leave.
Beauty was useless.
This little girl regarded Luoyue Mountain Villa as her second home; as long as it wasn't someone from Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion, anyone else coming was considered an invasion.
She seemed to have never considered that it was truly extortion for outside Immortal Sects to come here to establish Immortal Villas and exploit the offerings of the local people.
“Go see the residence I just seized.”
Xiang Fu also stood up at this moment, watching him leave, a hint of disgust in her brows.
When she first met Ji You, she thought he was handsome and elegant, with an ethereal Immortal demeanor. Although she couldn't discern his Realm, she felt that he was at least a little higher than herself, and thus developed some goodwill.
Especially after hearing that he also came from Feng Province, she thought that after his five-year term was up, he would leave the Immortal Sect and return to Feng Province, and they could become Dao Companions.
But she never expected that beneath his handsome exterior was a heart full of cunning and exploitation.
Xiang Fu left the side hall and then went to the side room to find her parents, discovering that her father was looking at a letter at the table, his expression somewhat complex.
“Father.”
Xiang Xuan came back to his senses: “Where is that Ji You?”
Xiang Fu plopped down at the table: “I just found out that Tianshu Academy wants my Fallen Moon Immortal Estate’s residence, and it was all this person’s idea.”
Madam Xiang glanced at her daughter: “Actually, he can indeed use that residence.”
“?”
Xiang Xuan at this moment gripped the letter: “Fu’er, you always wanted to go to Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion before, and Father supported that, but now Father hopes you reconsider and join Tianshu Academy.”
Xiang Fu was stunned upon hearing this: “Why?”
Xiang Xuan extended his hand and handed over the letter.
His Elder brother-in-law’s letter not only persuaded Xiang Fu to join Tianshu Academy, but also contained information about Ji You.
A self-cultivator from a rural area in Yuyang County, who should have been beheaded and punished, but achieved Junior Third Realm Completion before reaching twenty, and was exceptionally admitted to Tianshu Academy.
In the same year, he stepped on the second son of the Chu family and comprehended the Celestial Tome in front of everyone.
After the first month of the following year, he killed a Rongdao Realm expert in Qi Ridge, rescuing the direct Disciples of the Dan Sect, a brother and sister, and a group of Tianshu Academy Disciples.
Then he sought the Dao at Lingjian Mountain, breaking through the Sword Forest and learning the Spiritual Sword Mountain Sword Dao.
In the early years of Taiyuan, in Autumn Tournament, he shattered the hand bone of the second son of the Chu family, entered the Inner Courtyard, and gained the Aptitude to establish a Worldly Family.
Xiang Fu's eyes widened, feeling that she knew how to read every word in the letter, but when combined, she could barely recognize them.
One must know, for Mortal official Sect like theirs, their most frequent contact was with Immortal Villas, and even Worldly Sect higher than Immortal Villas were difficult for them to reach.
The Xiang family had also spent countless resources over the years, buying Medicinal Pills and Spirit Stones for their daughter, and frequently offering tributes to Luoyue Mountain Villa, only to cultivate their only daughter with cultivation talent to a level previously considered unattainable—to be able to enter an Immortal Sect.
But according to the letter, that person could even stir up trouble within an Immortal Sect.
The Chu family.
What kind of existence was the Chu family?
Even though they were in Feng Province, with limited information, they knew that the Chu family was truly the Lord of You Province.
He could even shatter the hand bone of the second son of the Chu family and enter the Inner Courtyard.
Xiang Xuan finally understood at this moment why White Cloud Immortal Estate was unwilling to conflict with him yesterday, and even gave up the residence they had been claiming and left.
Because the Prodigy mentioned in this letter was originally from Yuyang County in Feng Province, a native of Feng Province.
In other words, in the future, the ones who would be in charge here would not be the outside Immortal Villas, nor the Prefectural Governor.
That young man who stayed in his residence for a night was the true Lord of Feng Province.
Why did Prefectural Governor Liu act so unusually, bringing his son to join Tianshu Academy? It was because he knew that the pattern of Feng Province was about to change because of this.
With a local Worldly Family rising here, the outside Immortal Villas would no longer have any say.
At this moment, Xiang Fu had finished reading the letter, and the image of the man leaving appeared in her mind, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Those in lower Realms cannot confirm the Rank of those in higher Realms.
Moreover, Ji You had never made a move here.
What she found unbelievable was not only the rumors about the man in the letter, but also that the man had already entered the Upper Five Realms.
What shocked her most was that he was originally just a self-cultivator from a declining landlord family in the countryside.
Living in one's own small world, everyone tends to feel that they are the protagonist, just like Fang Ruoyao in Yuyang County back then.
When she learned that she had received a spot to enter Tianshu Academy, she already had an “Immortal demeanor” even before entering the Immortal Sect, and even her father, Fang Zhongzheng, spoke to her cautiously.
But after leaving Yuyang and entering Tianshu Academy, she realized that the true protagonist had always been the fiancé she had desperately tried to abandon.
Yesterday's Xiang Fu had the same mindset as Fang Ruoyao in Yuyang County.
She had long decided to join Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion, but seeing Tianshu Academy also vying for her, she naturally felt a bit smug.
And today's Xiang Fu was very much like Fang Ruoyao after entering Tianshu Academy and seeing the truth, only then realizing what a true protagonist was.
Xiang Xuan looked at his daughter's expression, knowing that she had finished reading the letter, then stood up and led her to the East Wing. Cao Jinsong had just finished drinking Liu Jianbei's tea and understood when he saw the Xiang family father and daughter approaching.
“News is limited in Feng Province, so perhaps no one knows about Junior Brother Ji’s deeds yet, but I don’t understand why the Instructor didn’t mention it first.”
“It would destroy their Dao Heart.”
Pei Ruyi slightly: “Destroy their Dao Heart?”
Cao Jinsong stroked his long beard: “If they take Ji You as their goal to enter the academy, what they ultimately see, just like Chu River, will only be despair.”
(I had a fever yesterday, my head was incredibly foggy, but I didn’t dare ask for leave since I had already updated two thousand characters less the day before, so I forced myself to write, resulting in a lot of typos, far more than usual, which severely affected the reading experience. Please bear with me.)