54: Retirement life, Zhao State suffered a military defeat!

Qinghe City, South Street Courtyard.

Life, like the water in the ancient well in the courtyard, was calm and still.

Chu Xuanjin lay in a rattan rocking chair, sunlight filtering through the gaps in the grapevines, casting dappled shadows on him.

He half-closed his eyes, listening to the faint clamor from the distant market, and smelling the subtle fragrance of tea wafting in the air.

This was the retired life he desired.

Leisurely, free, and undisturbed.

His Disciples had their own paths to follow, and the Sect had new Elders to manage it.

He, the hands-off manager, felt completely at ease... Three thousand miles away, a rising border city.

At the busiest intersection in the city, a three-story pavilion stood tall, with four large characters written on its plaque in a vigorous, dragon-and-phoenix style: “Myriad Dao Merchant Guild”.

Inside the Merchant Guild, people bustled and jostled.

“Shopkeeper Wang! Your ‘Spirit Gathering Pill’ is too effective! I was stuck at a Bottleneck for half a year, ate one, and broke through on the spot!”

“Shopkeeper Wang, when will the next batch of ‘Profound Iron Swords’ arrive? My mercenary group of over a hundred brothers are all waiting to replace their equipment!”

Behind the counter, Wang Duojin, dressed in brocade robes, worked his abacus so fast it left afterimages.

He wore a professional fake smile, and his sales pitch flowed endlessly.

“Don’t rush, esteemed customers, don’t rush! Good things must wait!”

“All Medicinal Pills are personally refined by our Merchant Guild’s Chief Alchemist, no credit extended! Weapons are also personally forged by our Chief Artifact Refiner, so hurry and buy!”

The Chief Alchemist and Artifact Refiner he spoke of were, of course, himself.

In the private room on the second floor of the Merchant Guild, Su Linger was delicately eating a plate of newly bought peach blossom crisps.

She had no interest in the bustling business downstairs.

She just found the way Third Junior Brother did his accounts very interesting.

The silver bell on her wrist jingled crisply as she took a pastry, a sound that was out of place with the clamor downstairs.

Occasionally, she would walk to the window and watch the Mortals rushing about for their livelihoods, and the Cultivators arguing red-faced over a few Spirit Stones.

She didn’t understand, but she liked to watch... Another two months passed.

The pot of tea in Chu Xuanjin’s courtyard had changed flavors seven or eight times.

He felt life was getting a bit boring.

So, he walked out of the small courtyard, intending to go to the newly opened storytelling hall in the city to listen to some tales.

As soon as he reached the street corner, he heard a noisy discussion.

“Have you heard? The Zhao Kingdom has lost another battle!”

A vendor selling baked flatbreads on the street was spitting as he spoke to several regular customers.

“This time, even the 100,000 Imperial Guards personally led by the Great General Protecting the Nation were slaughtered by that demon, losing their armor and suffering heavy casualties!”

“What demon? So powerful?”

“Who knows! Just one person! I heard that wherever that demon appeared, the land was scorched for a thousand miles, not a blade of grass grew! All living creatures were sucked dry into mummies!”

“My heavens! Didn’t the new Emperor Zhao Wuji acknowledge that Myriad Dao Divine Sect as his Revered Master? Why aren’t the immortals coming out to intervene?”

“Shh! Are you trying to die! How dare you say such things!”

Chu Xuanjin’s steps halted.

He frowned slightly.

Zhao Kingdom, Zhao Wuji.

Demon.

He remembered, he seemed to have taken on such a Named Disciple.

He also remembered Chen Fan, whose Soul was taken over by the Pill King’s remnant Soul, filled with resentment.

“Truly... troublesome.”

He sighed inwardly.

He had wanted to be a quiet observer, but this stage insisted on coming before him.

If his Named Disciple couldn’t even protect his country, it would be a loss of face for his Myriad Dao Divine Sect if word got out.

He turned and returned to his small courtyard... In the courtyard, by the stone table.

Chu Xuanjin sat down again, his fingertips tapping idly on the tabletop.

Go personally?

Too much trouble.

Send Ye Chenfeng?

No, his personality wasn't suited to handling such military and state affairs.

Send Zhao Wuyou?

He was still locked in a struggle with the Blazing Fire Sect, unable to spare time.

Send Wang Duojin?

Chu Xuanjin’s mind even conjured an image of Wang Duojin calculating the Zhao Kingdom’s treasury into a deficit.

No, absolutely not.

He thought of Su Linger.

Ice Frost Dao Body, Supreme Divine Canon.

And... her former identity, which she herself didn't even know.

Empress Lingshuang.

Although she was merely a Reincarnation, her Divine Soul memories had not yet Awakened.

But that imperial bearing and instinct should still be imprinted deep within her Soul.

Governing a Mortal Dynasty in the Lower Realm, for her former self, probably wouldn't even count as child's play.

For her, this might be a more interesting form of cultivation than shopping.

“Letting her follow Wang Duojin was indeed a waste of talent.”

Chu Xuanjin made a decision.

With a thought, a Divine Thought, transmitted through the disciple token, crossed thousands of miles and directly entered Su Linger’s Sea of Consciousness.

“Linger, come to Qinghe City to see me.”

...Myriad Dao Merchant Guild, second-floor private room.

Su Linger, who was delicately eating a peach blossom crisp, suddenly trembled.

Revered Master’s voice!

She immediately put down the pastry, stood up, and a hint of nervousness and anticipation appeared on her face.

“Third Junior Brother, Revered Master has summoned me, I’ll go first.”

She called out downstairs, and without waiting for Wang Duojin’s reply, her figure transformed into an ice-blue streak of light and disappeared from the spot... Qinghe City, small courtyard.

Space rippled slightly, and Su Linger’s figure appeared before the stone table.

She looked at her Revered Master, who was leisurely sipping tea, and quickly bowed in salute.

“Disciple Su Linger, greets Revered Master.”

“Sit.”

Chu Xuanjin pointed to the stone stool opposite him.

Su Linger obediently sat down, her hands on her lap, like a schoolchild waiting for a teacher's question.

“Linger, you have been doing business with your Third Junior Brother for several months now, have you gained anything?” Chu Xuanjin asked.

Su Linger thought for a moment, then answered seriously.

“Replying to Revered Master, Disciple has learned to distinguish over a hundred kinds of spirit ores, and also learned that one Low-Grade Spirit Stone can be exchanged for a thousand copper coins, which can buy many candied hawthorn skewers.”

Chu Xuanjin almost choked on his tea.

He looked at Su Linger’s clear and pure eyes, feeling amused and helpless.

It seemed that letting her follow Wang Duojin was indeed a wrong decision.

He cleared his throat and changed the subject.

“Your ice Dao can freeze a thousand miles and solidify all things; this is the Dao of destruction.”

“But do you know that ice also has its order?”

“snowflakes have six distinct corners, which is regulation. rivers freeze into smooth mirrors, which is law.”

Su Linger listened, half-understanding, her big eyes filled with confusion.

“Revered Master, Disciple is dull-witted.”

“No matter.” Chu Xuanjin smiled.

“What is learned from books is ultimately superficial; some truths need to be experienced personally to be understood.”

He looked at Su Linger.

“Do you still remember that Named Disciple, Zhao Wuji?”

“I remember.” Su Linger nodded.

“He is currently in some trouble.”

Chu Xuanjin’s tone became calm.

“The Zhao Kingdom under his rule is being invaded by demons, lives are being plunged into misery, and the nation is on the verge of collapse.”

“As fellow Disciples, are you willing to lend him a hand?”

Upon hearing this, Su Linger didn’t hesitate for a moment and immediately stood up.

“Revered Master, Disciple is willing!”

In her heart, Revered Master’s words were destiny.

A fellow Disciple’s trouble was her own trouble.

“Very good.”

Chu Xuanjin’s face showed satisfaction.

What he wanted was this pure, unquestioning devotion.

“This journey is not just to help him, but also for your own cultivation.”

“What I want you to learn is not slaughter, but... governance.”

“Go and see how a Dynasty operates. Go and learn how to use your power to establish order and protect all living beings.”

“When you understand that your ice can bring not only death but also peace, your Dao will truly reach Perfection.”

Su Linger nodded heavily, though she was still half-understanding.

“Disciple understands.”

“Go.” Chu Xuanjin waved his hand.

“The journey is long, be careful in all things.”

With a thought, a Storage Ring slowly floated towards Su Linger.

“Inside are some healing Medicinal Pills and a few Magic Treasures for self-defense. Keep them well.”

He then took out a palm-sized, crystal-clear Formation Plate.

“This is the ‘Nine Palaces Heavenly River Formation’. If you encounter a powerful enemy, activate it, and it can cover a hundred-mile radius. Only a Void Refining Perfection Cultivator cannot break it.”

Su Linger watched as her Revered Master took out treasures one by one, her eyes slightly reddening.

“Revered Master...”

“Take them.” Chu Xuanjin’s tone was beyond dispute.

“Myriad Dao Divine Sect Disciples, when traveling abroad, must not lack grandeur.”

Su Linger accepted the ring and the Formation Plate, then bowed deeply to Chu Xuanjin.

“Disciple will not fail Revered Master’s command!”

She turned, about to leave.

“Wait.” Chu Xuanjin called out to her again.

He looked at his only female Disciple, still feeling a bit uneasy.

With a thought, a Divine Thought, crossing the Void Realm, directly transmitted to Elder Enforcement Elder, who was far away in the Qingyun Branch and had recently taken over the Law Enforcement Hall.

“Elder Feng, put down your current affairs and come to Qinghe City to see me immediately.”

Su Linger looked at her Revered Master, puzzled.

In just a moment.

Space rippled in the courtyard, and Enforcement Elder, with a Wine Gourd on his back and a casual expression, appeared in the courtyard.

“Greetings, Sect Master!”

“Mm.” Chu Xuanjin nodded.

“From today onwards, you will secretly follow Linger and protect her safety.”

“Remember, unless her life is in danger, you are not allowed to show yourself, nor interfere with any of her decisions.”

“Let her go out and experience things on her own.”

Enforcement Elder was startled, then bowed.

“As you command.”

Only then did Su Linger understand that her Revered Master had already arranged everything for her.

A warm current flowed through her heart.

She looked at Chu Xuanjin, her admiration growing even stronger.

“Go.”

Chu Xuanjin waved his hand again.

This time, Su Linger no longer hesitated.

She bowed once more to Chu Xuanjin, then transformed into an ice-blue streak of light, soaring into the sky and speeding towards the Zhao Kingdom.

Enforcement Elder’s figure also silently merged into the Void Realm and disappeared.

In the courtyard, only Chu Xuanjin remained.

He lay back in his rocking chair, picked up the cup of tea that had long gone cold, and drank it all.

“This life as a hands-off manager is truly... comfortable.”