27: Chapter 27 Taipu (Part 2)

Lin Suwen first went to Beijian Mouth.

Sun Changshui was sitting by the water gauge, a rag draped over his lap, watching Sun Jingxiu measure the water.

Sun Jingxiu was much more composed now; hearing Lin Suwen arrive, he hurriedly moved a stool and went to pour water.

Lin Suwen set down the spirit rice, not beating around the bush.

"Jiang Yuhe has reached a critical juncture in her cultivation, and our family is looking for something to settle the rain, suppress the water, and stabilize the mud Qi."

Sun Changshui's brows twitched.

"Preparing for that next hurdle?"

Lin Suwen remained silent.

The Sun Family and the Jiang Family were no longer just neighbors. During last year's autumn tax, the Sun Family had covered the spirit rice for the Jiang Family. When the Feng Family fought over the well, Sun Changshui had stood before the well. Such things could not be said to outsiders, but with Sun Changshui, she could make her point without saying too much.

Sun Changshui did not answer immediately.

He pointed to the North Ravine behind him.

"My water source here is light; it produces Ravine Heart Dew, Fine Flowing Water, and Cold Moss Water, which mostly align with Rain Water, and at most, touch a bit of Kan Water. Jiang Yuhe's Grain Rain is thick, and these things cannot support it."

Lin Suwen asked, "Then where can I find some?"

Sun Changshui thought for a long time.

"The old well, accumulated spring mud..."

After saying this, he shook his head.

"Everyone knows this, but actually finding it isn't easy. You should go ask Old Crow Chen; he has many medicinal fields over there and knows about some niche items."

Lin Suwen thanked him and turned to head to Dihua Slope.

Between spring and summer, the smell of medicine was strongest at Dihua Slope.

Along both sides of the small path were medicinal herbs half a person's height. The dampness after the rain mixed with the bitter scent, drilling into her nose in waves. When she arrived at the Chen Family's door, the sound of pounding medicine was coming from inside.

Thud, thud, thud.

Each sound slower than the last.

Lin Suwen raised her hand and knocked on the door.

"Uncle Chen."

The sound of pounding medicine stopped.

A moment later, Old Crow Chen opened the door, his face still wearing that impatient expression.

"Is your Jiang Family treating my Chen Family as a pharmacy?"

Lin Suwen handed over the spirit rice.

"I'm not here to buy medicine, but to ask about something."

Old Crow Chen glanced at her, hesitated for a moment, and finally opened the door.

"Come in."

The scent of medicine was even stronger inside.

Lin Suwen explained the situation, saying only that Jiang Yuhe had reached a critical juncture in her cultivation, and the family wanted to prepare some thick and heavy spiritual resources like Grain Rain to avoid being passive in the future.

After listening, Old Crow Chen did not answer immediately but set down the pestle.

"What did Sun Changshui say?"

"He said the North Ravine water is light and cannot support Grain Rain."

"He's certainly one to avoid trouble."

Old Crow Chen fished a dried leaf from the cabinet, sniffed it, and tossed it back.

"I do know of one item related to Grain Rain."

Lin Suwen's eyes flickered slightly.

"What is it?"

"The Shimen Gap Shi Family has a piece of Sinking Rain Stone."

"Sinking Rain Stone?"

"It's something left behind by the older generation of the Shi Family," Old Crow Chen said. "That person dug it up from the bottom of the Blue Gravel sand pit when he was young. The stone is the size of a fist, gray-blue, and exudes water when it encounters rain, just like a person sweating. It doesn't replenish Qi, nor does it increase cultivation; it seems useless on normal days."

"Then why has it been kept until now?"

"Because it can suppress floating water."

Old Crow Chen said, "The Shi Family's sand pit has a flaw. Once the rainy season arrives, floating water at the bottom of the pit rises, and the Blue Gravel sand scatters. When that Sinking Rain Stone is pressed to the bottom of the pit, the water Qi sinks and does not become chaotic. No one in the Shi Family cultivates Grain Rain, and since this item is niche and can't be exchanged for much money, they've just kept it."

Lin Suwen was silent for a moment.

"Can it be used?"

"It is a bit niche," Old Crow Chen said, "but this item at least aligns with the intent of Grain Rain. The Sinking Rain Stone can press water into the soil, so it should be fine."

He paused there and looked up at Lin Suwen.

"But the Shi Family is currently close to the Ji Family."

Lin Suwen understood.

The Ji Family just formed a marriage alliance with the Shi Family.

If the Jiang Family were to ask for this Sinking Rain Stone, not to mention the price, the Ji Family would definitely find out. The other families were still unclear about the Ji Family's attitude, but judging by this marriage alliance, they were certainly not a group to be taken lightly.

Old Crow Chen continued, "If you want to buy it, it won't be easy to do so openly. To trade for it, you must bring out something the Shi Family cannot refuse."

Lin Suwen asked, "What does Uncle Chen think is suitable?"

"Returning Blue Silk, or a method to stabilize the sand."

Old Crow Chen said, "The Shi Family guards their sand pit, and they fear floating pit water the most. If you can help them stabilize the sand for a season, it would be more useful than giving them spirit rice."

Lin Suwen was lost in thought.

Seeing her silent, Old Crow Chen added, "There is one more thing."

"Please go ahead, Uncle Chen."

"Don't call Xiao Yan back to ask about this."

Lin Suwen looked up.

Old Crow Chen snorted coldly.

"She has entered your Jiang Family now; if she comes back frequently, others will watch her frequently. If they watch frequently, trouble will come frequently."

Lin Suwen nodded gently.

"I will keep that in mind."

In the Sangyin Small Market, the old storyteller had also reached the later part of the play.

He said that the four children truly went to seek the ultimate objects of the Five Elements.

Chunzi left first, heading east. At that time, there were no mountains in the east, only a stretch of cyan Qi; later, all plants and trees were born from there. He searched for a long time in the deepest part of the cyan Qi and found a root that had not yet grown into a tree, containing the very first vitality of all wood. Chunzi thought it was good; if he gave this to his father, his father would be able to sprout branches, grow leaves, and know warmth and cold.

Xiazi headed south. The south was so hot that even shadows couldn't stand there. He walked all the way to the place where the firelight was strongest and brought back a drop of Fire Essence. The Fire Essence was not large, just a speck in his palm, yet it shone so brightly that there was daylight in one's eyes. Xiazi said that with it, his father would no longer be constantly drowsy and sluggish.

Qiuzi headed west. The west was filled with white stones and wind; when the wind blew, the stones would ring out themselves. From a cracked mountain, he retrieved something resembling a white bone. The object was cold, hard, and rang with a metallic sound when tapped. Qiuzi thought that all things needed bones to stand, and his father should also have bones.

Dongzi went to the north, traveling the longest. There were no roads in the north, only a black river; the surface of the water was still, but underneath, it seemed to press down with ten thousand years of cold sounds. He retrieved a drop of Mysterious Blood from the bottom of the water. When that drop of blood landed in his palm, the wind all around stopped. Dongzi looked at it for a long time, said nothing, and just brought it back.

The last one was the most difficult.

The old man stopped there and tapped the table with his hand.

"Earth is not in the east, south, west, or north. Earth is underfoot, and also within all things. The four children went deep underground together, searching for a long time before they found a lump of mud that had not yet taken shape. That mud grew when it met wind, sank when it met water, did not scorch when it met fire, did not rot when it met wood, and did not crack when it met metal. The four children were overjoyed, saying this was the ultimate treasure of Earth, capable of bearing all things, and capable of bearing their father."

Someone in the tea shed was listening so intently that they even set down their wine cup.

The old man continued:

"They sent the items one by one into Taipu's body."

"Chunzi's wood root entered his chest, and Taipu's body gained sinews. Xiazi's Fire Essence fell between his brows, lighting up Taipu's dreams. Qiuzi's white bone was embedded in his spine, and Taipu gained a form that could rely on itself. Dongzi's Mysterious Blood was poured into his abdomen, and vitality began to flow through Taipu's body."

"Finally, that lump of underground mud was also put inside."

The old man's voice slowed down.

"All five were complete."

"Taipu woke up."

"He saw spring, heard summer, touched autumn, drank winter, and felt the earth growing bit by bit within his body. He was finally like all things; he had sinews, spirit, bones, blood, and a Physical Body capable of bearing himself."

"But precisely because of this, he could no longer be Taipu."

The bamboo clappers fell lightly.

"On the fifth day, Taipu died."

The shed went silent instantly.

The old man was not in a hurry; after a long while, he continued:

"After Taipu died, his body split open. The light rose up to become Yang; the heavy sank down to become Yin. Those five ultimate treasures also shattered; the wood fell into the plants and trees, the fire fell into the stars, the metal fell into the mountain rocks, the water fell into the rivers, and the earth fell into the land."

"The Heavens saw him die, roared in fury and grief, and thus there was thunder in the world."

"The Earth heard of his death, let out a long sigh of sorrow, and thus there was wind in the world."

"Only then did the four children realize that their father had not been lacking anything at all. Having no sinews, no bones, no fire, and no blood was, for him, Perfection. Yet they used the likeness of all things to patch him up, and in the end, they patched him to death."

The old man smiled, his voice hoarse.

"Afterwards, the four children refused to live in the same place again; they were all consumed by the guilt that they themselves had killed Taipu."

"Spring guards one season, summer guards one season, autumn guards one season, and winter guards one season. The rotation of the four seasons became the original rule of heaven and earth."

For a moment, only the sound of the wind remained in the tea shed.

A foot merchant whispered, "This play is quite strange."

The old man smiled.

"Strange? Many good intentions in this world do not necessarily lead to good deeds."

Jiang Chengning only came back to his senses upon hearing this.

Shopkeeper Xie was watching him from behind the counter.

"Finished listening?"

Jiang Chengning said, "Finished."

"Did you find out what you were looking for?"

Jiang Chengning packed up his things.

"I have some direction, at least."

Shopkeeper Xie said, "There are too many questions in the Small Market, and too many ears. You are managing those accounts for the Feng Family now, so asking about the trade routes of various families is justifiable, but don't ask too specifically."

Jiang Chengning cupped his hands in a salute.

"Many thanks, Shopkeeper."