Chapter 72: Golden Sunlight on the Grassland, Daily Life

On the fifth day of the tenth month of the sixteenth year of Tianchen, in the Lianyun Grassland.

Lianyun Grassland is located in Youzhou. Heading north, there is endless scenery: the Northeast Plateau with its vast grasslands, the Tianshan Mountains with their snow-capped peaks, and the Northwest with its endless sandstorms. In short, it is a boundless region.

To speed up their journey, they used a lot of spiritual energy to urge their horses to grind the ground, achieving a speed that was rarely seen by ordinary people. Even so, it still took them many days to reach Youzhou City.

...

They were in the heart of the grassland, gazing at the endless clouds and marveling at the vastness of the world.

In spring and summer, the grass is lush and green, stretching to the clouds. In autumn and winter, it first turns golden, blending with the sunlight, a truly magnificent place. Then the grass withers and the wind rises, gradually fading away, as heaven gently covers the grassland with a blanket of snow.

A vast expanse of pure white, with occasional mountain peaks where the sun shines golden as dawn breaks.

"I saw it! I saw it!"

Qingyu, wearing a cloak, happily shook Wen Chuan's arm, and after a while, she ran to Fan Xiang's side and excitedly talked.

"Fanxiang, you're amazing! The sunrise this morning really did give us a golden view of the mountains!"

In the distance, there are continuous mountain ranges in the Lianyungang Grassland. After a heavy snowfall, the weather cleared up today. When Fan Xiang was stargazing last night, he told everyone that there should be a scene of the sun shining on the golden mountains at sunrise tomorrow.

Lin Fanxiang linked arms with her, and as their robes brushed against each other, the girl laughed, "This is the first time I've ever actually seen it, it's really beautiful."

The vast snowfield, the golden mountain peaks, the wind carrying the scent of snow, the clouds reflecting the clear sky—it's as if all the troubles of the world are insignificant in such a pristine place.

Qin Tianshu unconsciously gazed into the distance, lost in thought for once. Wen Chuan, standing beside him, chuckled, "What are you thinking about?"

The scholar snapped out of his daze, turned around with a smile, and said, "The scenery is so beautiful, I was simply mesmerized."

"Ah!" Zhang Xuan suddenly sighed, "I've been taking medicine for several days and sleeping all day, and only now do I feel alive again!"

Cai Cai pattered on the ground, while the chicks clucked. Zhang Xuan picked it up and suddenly ran off with it in his arms.

"Cai Cai, let me show you the golden sunrise over the mountains, hahaha! Aren't you happy? Isn't it beautiful?! Hahahaha!"

Cai Cai: "Gou Gou Ga Ga Ga Ga!!!"

It's so cold and windy!!! You naughty Xuanxuan!!!

"Wow!!!"

"Gagaga!!!"

Save the chickens! Save the chickens! Nine roosters crow!

"What did you say! You want to fly again?!"

"..."

Qingyu watched the backs of the person and the chicken and laughed speechlessly, "Stop running! Cai Cai is about to faint!"

Qin Tianshu also shouted, "Looks like it's all better! You drive today!"

"What?! You're asking me what I know?"

Lin Fanxiang took a few steps toward him and asked, "What did you say?!"

"Hahaha, I get it! I understand now!"

Wen Chuan seemed to understand what Zhang Xuan, who was running around with Cai Cai not far away, was saying. The boy laughed and shouted, "What did you understand?!"

"Star map!"

"I!"

"I can understand the star chart now!"

"Whoa! Nana! Fly!"

"Goh gooh goh gooh goh gooh goh gooh goh gooh goh gooh!!!"

The sunlight is fleeting, but the wind is endless. The boy gazes at the golden mountain peak and runs freely across the vast grassland. He holds the vegetables high, as if carrying something to amplify his voice. He shouts loudly, towards the sky and towards the earth. He understands.

He realized that he had finally understood the star map in his own way.

Ouch!

With a "thump," Zhang Xuan tripped over a stone, the boy swatting the snow with his face while simultaneously releasing vegetables into the air with both hands—

"Gagagagagagaga!"

Cai Cai flapped her wings. It was the first time in her life that a chicken had flown on its own. She was still wearing a cotton-padded coat, and her fluttering flight was both frantic and hilarious.

...

"Smack!"

Zhang Xuan slammed the star map onto the table, then took out a hand-drawn, ugly, and very simple... map of Kyushu.

"Nine stars: three in the south, three in the north, two in the west, and one in the east."

"They parted here, here, there... and there!"

That's it!

“Tsk tsk tsk,” Qingyu sighed and shook her head, “What an ugly map.”

Qin Tianshu nodded seriously, "Really."

Lin Fanxiang pursed her lips, the girl gently looking at the star chart and map, but her own astrological proverb remained unresponsive.

"What are you talking about? It took me days to figure that out," Zhang Xuan said indignantly. Wen Chuan patted Zhang Xuan on the shoulder and laughed.

"Don't listen to them, they don't understand star charts at all."

Upon hearing this, Qingyu nodded and smiled brightly, "Oh, we were just teasing you... But how did you figure that out?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xuan perked up again. The young man raised his chin, coughed a few times, and began to tell his story.

"I've been looking at star charts for over a month!"

"I've been reading the Chronicles of Kyushu for several more days!"

"I got into a fight in Meishan. After that, I had a headache and my mind was a mess, like there was a ball of thread tangled around in my head."

"I've had a good few more nights of sleep!"

"I woke up yesterday and everything was clear to me, so I just sketched it out!"

"It's done!"

He spoke with great enthusiasm and pride, and Qingyu clapped with a smile, in an exaggerated way.

"Great! I knew you could do it!"

"Yes! I said long ago that heaven would not let Zhang down!"

The scholar then clapped, not loudly, but his movements and expressions suggested he wanted to clapp his hands until they were bruised.

Lin Fanxiang smiled helplessly, but also clapped her hands gently for him. He had been spending more than a month on that drawing, looking at it during the day, at night, and even while sleeping. He was indeed stubborn.

Zhang Xuan unconsciously scratched his head, a hint of embarrassment even appearing on his face. Wen Chuan chuckled softly and said...

"Thanks for your hard work."

...

That night, the stars twinkled and the snowfield shone brightly.

The boys cleared a space, lit a campfire, and roasted mutton, pork, and some vegetables—all of which Wen Chuan had specially bought back in Extraordinary City and even stored with a lot of ice, just for these few days.

While smelling the aroma of the roasted meat, Qingyu looked at the map and said, "So, there are three in the north: a jasmine petal from Jizhou, an unnamed stone from Jizhou, and one more in Youzhou?"

"Yes! And, in Snow City!"

Zhang Xuan said confidently, "I saw it, the name of Xuecheng is huge, it's right there."

Qin Tianshu and Wen Chuan were busy grilling meat. They had specially made a rack with empty spaces for raw meat, as well as some salt, chili peppers, and other seasonings. Wen Chuan held a skewer to warm it over the fire, while the scholar studied the various seasonings and asked Zhang Xuan, "What about the ones on the west side and the ones on the east side?"

Zhang Xuan: "Jinsha City in Liangzhou, Miao Village in Yundi, Yizhou, ...Fengdu in Taishan, Qingzhou?"

“Wow,” Qingyu sighed, “the stars really know how to find a good place to stay.”

Lin Fanxiang sat down next to Qingyu and asked, "And then, what happens after all nine stars are gathered?"

Zhang Xuan shook his head upon hearing this. The boy looked somewhat troubled. "I don't know. It's like I had a long dream. I can only see where these stars are on the map. I don't know anything else."

"That's good, let's take it one step at a time."

Qingyu scooped up Cai Cai, who was walking on the ground. The chicks were running around, and Cai Cai's clothes were a little loose. The girl bent down to button up Cai Cai's clothes, analyzing the situation as she did so.

"The power of the nine stars is attached to various objects, and then guided to the 'god' using the method of attracting spirits. It is also necessary to use the method of absorbing spirits to consume the lives of some living beings, and finally create a god..."

"But what's the point of creating gods? It costs some lives. Whose lives are being used up?"

"Huh? Cai Cai, do you know?"

Qingyu's tone was natural yet playful. She even picked up the vegetables, the girl pouting slightly and making a funny face to tease the chicken.

"What do you think, Cai Cai? Do you want to be a god?"

"Huh? Don't want to? Do you want to?"

"Alright, today I, the number one demon of the Nine Provinces, hereby bestow upon you the title of Chicken God of the Nine Provinces! Cai Cai!"

Cai Cai: "Hook up!"

Zhang Xuan: "Me! Me! Me! The number one swordsman in the Nine Provinces, I hereby bestow upon you the title of King of Vegetables!"

Cai Cai: "Hook up!"

"Can you be serious for once...?"

Qin Tianshu looked up at Qingyu and the others, the scholar smiling silently, "This is a major event concerning the entire Nine Provinces, and you're still making jokes."

Cai Cai turned around, her dark little eyes looking at the scholar, seemingly somewhat angry.

"Hook up!"

Shusen, how dare you interrupt the little chicken's ascension to godhood! You're awful!

Qin Tianshu clicked his tongue and said, "You're such a noob, truly the number one in the Nine Provinces, little chicken!"

Cai Cai: "Gou Gou Ga!"

Wen Chuan smiled upon hearing the noise. He flipped the roasting meat, the flickering firelight illuminating the boy's indifferent eyes.

"Actually, there's no need to rush. Talking about these things is pointless. We'll find out eventually."

Qin Tianshu lowered his head, chuckled, and sighed, "That's true."

Before they knew it, the barbecue was ready. Wen Chuan put the meat in, and Qin Tianshu sprinkled various seasonings. Seeing this, Zhang Xuan jumped up and ran to Qin Tianshu's side to help.

"Brother Tianshu, are you tired?... Brother Wen, are you thirsty?... Should I take it?"

"Hey... less spicy... hehe..."

"Go away," Qin Tianshu almost rolled his eyes at him, handing the skewers he had just prepared to Zhang Xuan.

"Take these strings and give them to Qingyu and Doctor Lin. You can come back later!"

Qingyu leaned on Fanxiang's shoulder, the warm campfire burning, and the girl tilted her head and smiled, "It smells so good!"

Wen Chuan smiled upon hearing her voice, and casually reminded Zhang Xuan, "Don't give Qingyu lamb skewers, she doesn't like them."

Qin Tianshu also said, "Hold it steady, don't wobble."

Zhang Xuan: "..."

One person grilled the meat, another prepared the seasonings, and the third ran errands. Qingyu and Fanxiang sat on the futons and ate, their division of labor perfectly reasonable and clear.

Several skewers of meat were delivered over, and Qingyu and Fanxiang were eating and laughing, enjoying the moon and warming themselves by the fire, having a wonderful time.

Zhang Xuan whimpered beside Qin Tianshu and Wen Chuan, his face scrunched up, looking very hungry and pitiful. Wen Chuan smiled and handed Qin Tianshu several skewers of meat in one go, telling him to sprinkle on the seasoning.

"Alright, these are all yours."

Zhang Xuan grinned silently. This handsome young genius with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and profound cultivation, somehow managed to exude a bit of foolishness. The scholar shook his head and sighed, "Sigh, just wait and see!"

He moved very quickly, turning the meat and seasonings with every scramble. Before long, Zhang Xuan excitedly carried his portion of roasted meat to sit next to Lin Fanxiang, forcefully inserting himself into Qingyu and Lin Fanxiang's girlish conversation.

"What are you talking about? Moisturizing? Dry face?"

Zhang Xuan ate his meat while innocently asking questions. The young man even tactfully covered his mouth with a handkerchief to prevent oil from splattering, eating with satisfaction and elegance.

Qingyu smiled at him, then suddenly lowered her voice and became serious.

"Xiao Zhang, it's getting colder and colder lately. Don't you feel your face is getting dry?"

Lin Fanxiang couldn't help but purse her lips. She slowly ate the meat in her hand while listening to Qingyu "instructing" Zhang Xuan with amusement.

"A good man's ambition lies in all directions, and a handsome young man's ambition lies in being clean and refreshing. Look at your Brother Tianshu, he's so good-looking, but his face is still dry because of the recent wind. He's hiding five boxes of moisturizing and beautifying cream behind the bookshelf!"

Zhang Xuan's eyes widened. He unconsciously looked at the scholar who was joking with Wen Chuan not far away, and didn't forget to eat a piece of meat. "You... really?"

"Of course it's true!"

Qingyu looked at Zhang Xuan with an expression that said it with absolute certainty.

“When your brother Wen drives, I need him to wear sunscreen in the summer and moisturize in the winter—you’re still too young. You don’t know how agonizing love can be. Even the best relationships end in arguments. That’s when your lover’s beauty becomes extremely important!”

"I'll let you in on a secret: sometimes I argue with Wen Chuan, but after a while, when I look at his face, I soften up."

"This is a truth about love, you must remember it!"

Zhang Xuan had a "master, I've got it" look on his face, but then he looked at Lin Fanxiang with some worry. What should he do? He had just finished his "face-to-face" exercise today, and his face was cold and red.

Looking at him, Lin Fanxiang finally couldn't help but laugh out loud. For once, the usually aloof young woman gently tidied a stray hair from Zhang Xuan's forehead.

"Ah Xuan is good-looking..."

"However, what Qingyu said makes sense."

Lin Fanxiang spoke slowly and deliberately, with a hint of regret. Zhang Xuan blinked, his ears turning red, sensing something was amiss.

"Hahaha," Qingyu finished her portion of roasted meat and laughed heartily at Lin Fanxiang's words. Leaning against Lin Fanxiang, she said to Zhang Xuan,

"Your brother Tianshu is really good at skincare, you... haha... you can go ask him now and get his moisturizing cream... hahaha..."

...

Soon, Qin Tianshu's angry shouts echoed across the grassland.

"Zhang Xuan! You! How did you know!"

"I'm just asking! ...What are you laughing at, Brother Wen? Sister Qingyu even said that if it weren't for your face, she wouldn't be with you..."

Wen Chuan, who was watching the show from the sidelines: "..."

Qin Tianshu: Hehe

Zhang Xuan argued confidently, "Brother Tianshu, just lend me a box, since you don't see that heartless girl every day anyway."

Qin Tianshu: You're dead, absolutely.

Not far away, Qingyu burst into laughter. She was talking to Fanxiang when she saw Wenchuan give her a "cold" look, and the girl immediately stopped laughing.

Qingyu: Zhang Xuan! If Qin Tianshu won't lend you his moisturizing cream, I won't let Wen Chuan give it to you either!

Cai Cai: "Coo coo coo~"