The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, Part One
"The Second Young Master has really made a name for himself in front of the Master this time. I never expected that he would actually move the 'Sword Trial Tournament' to Black Mountain." The steward was old and his voice was a little hoarse. "The Master is very pleased and has entrusted the Second Young Master with the entire responsibility of organizing this Sword Trial Tournament."
“Grandpa is naturally delighted that my second brother has such foresight.” Chen Changgui tapped the table more frequently. “Since he brought this conference, it is only right that we entrust the affairs to him.”
“Piaomiao Mountain is closed off from the world, Xinyuan Temple is indifferent to worldly affairs, and the leaders of the Northern and Southern Sword Sects have disappeared one after another,” the steward chimed in. “I never thought that even the Beggars’ Sect would change its master overnight. The Second Young Master’s luck is truly lamentable.”
“This is not only my second brother’s luck, but also the luck of my Chen family.” Chen Changgui stood up. “Those heroes, one by one, are all insatiable old foxes. They are unwilling to be controlled by others, and for so many years, they have been holding onto the Sword Testing Tournament and refusing to let go.”
Chen Changgui walked out of the house and into the middle of the courtyard with his hands behind his back. The butler followed closely behind him.
“Now that the Northern and Southern Sword Sects have lost their backbone, the world is in chaos. Electing a leader is an urgent matter.” Chen Changgui squinted, examining the entire courtyard and the sky. “Only Wenqu City has the resources and ability to organize such a grand event.”
"The Second Young Master's fortune is naturally also the Young Master's fortune. It's only a matter of time before Wenqu City becomes the domain of all the scholars and swordsmen in the world." The steward spoke words of encouragement, but his face was filled with unspoken worry.
Chen Changgui frowned. "Uncle Zhou, you came to the Chen family with your mother and watched me grow up. Please feel free to speak your mind."
"Yes," Zhou Jianye replied respectfully. He glanced around, then lowered his voice and said, "I've heard that the Second Young Master has dealings with the Liuli Palace, and the 'Xihe Tower' and 'Changfeng Pavilion'..."
Zhou Jianye stopped there.
Chen Changgui looked at Zhou Jianye seriously. "Does that also have anything to do with the Liuli Palace?"
"It seems to have some connection with Xinyuan Temple." Zhou Jianye shook his head.
Chen Changgui let out a long breath, covered his mouth, and fell into deep thought. The unease that had been suppressed in his heart finally surged up. He controlled his emotions and said calmly, "Are you saying that Xinyuan Temple is only standing by because my second brother instructed it?"
“The Second Young Master has been colluding with people in the martial arts world on his own. This time, he used the Sword Testing Tournament to bestow favors upon the Sword Forging City.” Zhou Jianye paused, then stepped forward. “The Second Young Master seems to have suddenly become a different person. I’m worried that he might affect the Young Master’s grand ambitions.”
"That guy doesn't even have a decent sword." Chen Changgui glanced in the direction the servant and the swordsman had left. "Making such irresponsible remarks about commoners wielding swords is just how my second brother does things. All talk and no action, it's all for naught."
Zhou Jianye followed his gaze, and seemed to hear the clanging sound again. He frowned: "I'm not worried about this blacksmith; he can't cause any trouble. But the Glazed Palace and Xinyuan Temple should not be underestimated."
“My second brother invited me to listen to storytelling at Xihe Tower a few days ago, and I didn’t see anything unusual.” Chen Changgui looked into Zhou Jianye’s eyes: “There is no concrete evidence of collusion, so it is too early to draw conclusions at this time.”
"Young Master!" Zhou Jianye's face was full of worry, his lips moved slightly, but in the end he said nothing more.
"Steward Zhou," a pretty maidservant called out loudly from behind the wall at the other end of the courtyard, "The master is looking for you."
Zhou Jianye's smile returned, and he raised his voice in response: "Coming right now."
He hadn't run far when Chen Changgui called out to him, "Uncle Zhou."
Zhou Jianye turned around, and Chen Changgui took off the jade pendant hanging from his waist and handed it to him, asking, "What did you say was the name of that little blacksmith from Sword Casting City?"
“Li Letian.” Zhou Jianye straightened his back and took the jade token. “Li Letian, who is unaffiliated with any sect or faction.”
"Has my second brother not left the manor for several days?"
There were three or four suns.
"We can leave the matter of Xinyuan Temple aside for now and investigate Liuli Palace instead." Chen Changgui lowered his eyes, seemingly lost in thought.
*
For several days in a row, Chen Changji stayed in his study, never leaving even to eat or sleep. The room was somewhat dim, with only the window beside the desk open. Chen Changji himself, and his desk, were bathed in sunlight.
On the left side of the desk were stacks of documents. Chen Changji took them out one by one, reviewed them, and then placed them on the right. Next to the desk were two stools, each already piled with two stacks of reviewed documents.
These documents were all sent from Xihelou and Changfengge in various places. Some were reports of achievements, some were requests for support, and some were neither good news nor bad news.
Those who care about Chen Changji—
"Young master, how are you?"
Chen Changji replied: "I'm fine."
"The weather is unpredictable, please take care of yourself, young master."
Chen Changji replied, "Take care of yourself too."
Looking to develop a side hustle—
"It's been raining lately, should we sell more paper umbrellas?"
Chen Changji replied: "Focus on food and lodging."
"With the recent clear weather, would you consider opening a separate shop selling folding fans?"
Chen Changji replied: "Focus on food and lodging."
Ambiguous meaning—
“A group of ducks lined up to go into the river next to the Xiehe Building.”
Chen Changji replied, "Understood."
"The business of Sword Casting City was ruined by two little girls!" This happened even before Xihe Tower and Changfeng Pavilion were established.
Chen Changji replied: "That happened a long time ago."
Very helpful —
"Am I here to celebrate the young master's birthday?"
Chen Changji replied, "No need to come."
"There is an honest old lady in Xihelou who returned lost money."
Chen Changji replied: "Encouragement and reward."
In short, although it's hard to say what's particularly significant, Chen Changji is now extremely busy.
Oh, and on the rosewood bookshelf behind him, one half was covered with dark, white cotton paper filled with writing. The other half was filled with white paper, crammed into every square. They were all stacks of Chen Changji's storybooks.
Chen Changji held a document, turning it over and over several times, but he remained unsettled and unable to grasp its meaning. At this moment, Xia Zhi brought Li Letian into the room.
“Young Master,” Xia Zhi said, “this is Young Hero Li from Sword Forging City.”
"Ah, Summer Solstice." Chen Changji called out the servant's name eagerly, but his face looked tired and his voice was a little dry.
Li Letian followed closely behind Xia Zhi. He stopped five steps away from the table, and only then did the clanging sound behind him cease.
Lifting his face from the pile of documents, Chen Changji tilted his head slightly and looked at the swordsman in front of the desk.
Li Letian was dressed in the simple, practical coarse cloth clothes of a blacksmith, and in his hand he held a piece of iron—Chen Changji felt this was the most apt description—it was a longsword without a scabbard or hilt. The scabbard and hilt were both wrapped in yellowish coarse cloth, very casually.
As for the sword on his back, it did have a decent scabbard. However, it would clang and rattle with the slightest movement, as if he were carrying a basket of scrap metal. On this point, the two Chen brothers were of the same mind.
"Thank you, Young Master Chen, for giving Sword Forging City this opportunity to prove its worth."
“You don’t need to thank me,” Chen Changji raised his hand. “This idea came from a young lady, and I’m happy to cooperate with your Sword Casting City.”
Li Letian nodded thoughtfully.
Chen Changji never put down his pen. He stared at Li Letian for a long time before asking bluntly, "Are these two swords alright?"
"We're in a hurry," Li Letian said, looking troubled.
"If you want to do a good job, you must first have the right tools. You've already made the promise, so you can't let it slip." Chen Changji lowered his head and buried himself in the sea of documents again, writing furiously as he instructed, "Xia Zhi, set up a sword-making shop for Master Li."
"Yes, young master." Xia Zhi stepped forward quietly and placed the scroll steadily on the edge of the long table: "Young master, this portrait is circulating in the city, saying that it is a goddess who protects the sword test."
Chen Changji was taken aback, thinking to himself, "When did this kid learn to say such auspicious things?"
"I understand." Chen Changji only glanced at it, showing no intention of elaborating.
Xia Zhi wanted to say something more, but seeing that Chen Changji was completely absorbed in thought, she ultimately didn't say anything.
The light gradually took on a honey-like hue, slowly receding from the desk toward the window.
"Oh no!" Chen Changji suddenly looked up at the sky outside the window. "It's already this late."
Without hesitation, he tossed the pen aside, stood up, and straightened his clothes, which had become wrinkled from sitting all day. Just as he was about to leave, he was surprised to find Li Letian still standing in the room.
Why are you still here?
“I want to meet the benefactor who gave me this opportunity,” Li Letian said.
*
That was truly an impeccable, magnificent horse. It was a fine steed from the Western Regions that Chen Changji had specially requested for Pei Jiangxi. With its thick black mane and sharp eyes, it even looked like a beast king.
Pei Jiangxi stood beside the horse, appearing exceptionally delicate. "Thank you for your trouble, Uncle."
The middle-aged man gripped the horse's reins tightly in his right hand. "Young Master's orders are correct; I will certainly do my best." He looked at Pei Jiangxi. "Mount up, Miss Pei. I'll lead the horse for you."
Pei Jiangxi swiftly and cleanly mounted her horse.
Once on horseback, Pei Jiangxi straightened her back and took the reins. Her previous delicate appearance vanished instantly, replaced by a majestic and imposing presence, befitting a general.
"I should be thanking you, Miss," the man said. "Thanks to you, Miss, my young master has finally pulled himself together."
"Jiang Xi!" Chen Changji called out from afar. After running to Pei Jiangxi's side, he rested for a while before speaking again: "I was worried that I wouldn't make it in time."
Pei Jiangxi smiled and said, "How could that be? I'll wait for you."
Chen Changji chuckled, his hand constantly stroking the horse's mane.
"Is this Young Hero Li?" Pei Jiangxi looked at Li Letian behind him.
"Thank you for giving Sword Forging City this opportunity," Li Letian said in a deep voice.
“It wasn’t that I gave Sword Forging City this opportunity,” Pei Jiangxi said calmly. “And it wasn’t that I gave you this opportunity either.”
Li Letian looked up and gazed intently at Pei Jiangxi, who was riding a horse with a majestic and heroic bearing.
“It was Young Master Chen who gave you this opportunity,” Pei Jiangxi said softly. “What happens next is entirely up to you, young hero.”
“Young master, thank you for the horse.” Pei Jiangxi turned to Chen Changji. “Now that the agreement for the conference has been reached, it is time for us to part ways.”
A flicker of panic crossed Chen Changji's eyes. He gripped the reins: "Can I still write to you?"
Pei Jiangxi looked at the two of them tenderly.
"Before me lies a treacherous abyss." Pei Jiangxi lowered her eyelids. "But I have something I must protect, so I cannot stop."
Pei Jiangxi saw no sign of retreat in the eyes of the two men.
She reached down and asked, "Is there anything you absolutely need to protect?"
In Chen Changji's eyes, there were white flowers everywhere and black hair flowing in the wind.
In Li Letian's eyes, there were dazzling sparks and an inescapable pink sword tassel.
In the sunlight, three hands of different colors are intertwined.
Pei Jiangxi was backlit. Two men facing the light raised their arms and placed their hands on top of hers.
Like a pioneer and her disciples.
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