92: Chapter 93 Military Status

Nanjin Prefecture City, Chengjin Chamber of Commerce.

The front hall of the Chamber of Commerce was paved with blue-gray jade bricks, and several bronze pillars with water patterns supported the dome.

Amidst the coming and going of people, a faint fragrance drifted, masking the dusty air from the streets outside.

Jiang Yuhe stood before the counter.

Today, she wore a deep blue Dharma robe; if one did not look closely, it would almost seem like an ordinary Daoist robe.

Only when she turned or raised her sleeves would a glimmer of water occasionally ripple across the hem of her garment, like a moonlit lake surface gently stirred by the wind, only to vanish in an instant.

The middle-aged Cultivator behind the counter was flipping through a ledger; seeing her ask a question, he lifted his eyes slightly.

Jiang Yuhe said, "I heard that the border between the two Circuits has not been peaceful recently."

The middle-aged Cultivator paused his movements, then nodded.

"Fellow Daoist, you have just arrived in Nanjin, and you have already heard the rumors?"

Jiang Yuhe said, "I only heard some fragments."

The middle-aged Cultivator closed the ledger and lowered his voice, "It is indeed not peaceful."

"These days, many Cultivators from outside the Circuit have arrived at several prefecture cities along the border. Judging by their attire, most are disciples of Families from other places, and there are also some guest Cultivators and vassal Cultivators."

"They come to Nanjin mostly to buy Medicinal Pills for recovering Qi and protecting meridians, as well as defensive and escape Talismans. Even the Medicinal Pills for overdrawing blood and Qi, which are rarely asked for, have been bought up in several batches."

Speaking of this, he shook his head.

"Does this look like they have any intention of going back to peacefully farm?"

Jiang Yuhe's gaze flickered slightly.

"Is it just a typical Family land dispute?"

The middle-aged Cultivator chuckled.

"If it were just a typical Family land dispute, why would they travel so far to make purchases?"

"Furthermore, it is not just one Family."

"It has spread throughout the city now that several Families are moving their entire clans, bringing young disciples, clan-protecting Cultivators, and guest retainers to the border."

"Judging by that stance, it does not look like a small skirmish."

Jiang Yuhe was silent for a moment, then asked softly, "Does the Imperial Court's Jade Registry not intervene in military conflicts between the Circuits?"

When the middle-aged Cultivator heard the words "Imperial Court," he swept his gaze left and right.

The front hall of the Chamber of Commerce was noisy, and no one noticed their conversation.

Only then did he lower his voice and say, "If the late Emperor were still alive, someone would naturally intervene."

"But since the late Emperor passed away, the Crown Prince has not been on the throne for long, and after that Jingque Rebellion, when the Prince of Yan entered the palace and changed the calendar, this Great Xu Imperial Court is no longer what it used to be."

Jiang Yuhe said nothing.

The middle-aged Cultivator continued, "The Emperor now sits high in the Imperial Palace; nominally, he still holds the Jade Registry of the four Circuits and their mountains and rivers, but the Imperial Court mostly turns a blind eye to how the regional royal clans conduct themselves."

"It is called a glorious unification."

"In reality, the various princes each occupy their own fiefs, the Purple Mansion Immortal clans divide and govern the prefectures, the governors hold seals, and the royal clans have armies; the imperial order has long been in chaos."

"As long as they do not raise banners to rebel against the Court, how could the Imperial Court manage the conflicts and killings of border Families?"

Jiang Yuhe nodded and asked again, "Since the border friction has already been brought out into the open, and Guli Circuit is being invaded by outside Families, have any Families from Guli Circuit moved into Yanque Circuit to seek a stable registry?"

The middle-aged Cultivator said, "Yes, and quite a few."

"The Immortal forces currently on the surface in Guli Circuit only count as two."

"One is the Chengtian Sect."

Mentioning the Chengtian Sect, his tone became slightly more solemn.

"The Chengtian Sect has four peaks: Start of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. The Masters of these four peaks are all Immortals, and the Dharma lineages of the four seasons are complete. Coupled with the Sect Master, there are five Immortals sitting in command on the surface."

"Such a force is naturally a behemoth."

"But Guli Circuit is quite large after all; no matter how strong the Chengtian Sect is, it is hard for them to support it alone."

Jiang Yuhe asked, "What about the other one?"

The middle-aged Cultivator hesitated for a moment and said, "The other one is far away."

"I heard that on the south side of Guli Circuit, there is a Demon Immortal ruling over the mountains and waters. Not much is known outside about its specific title, origins, or clan. News from the southern border is blocked, and here in Nanjin, we have only heard a few sparse words."

"Therefore, if the various Families of Guli Circuit feel uneasy and move north to join Yanque Circuit, it is not surprising."

Jiang Yuhe continued to ask, "Is it easy to enter Yanque Circuit?"

The middle-aged Cultivator shook his head.

"How could it be easy?"

"Any Family from outside the Circuit that wants to enter Yanque Circuit must first pass the Song Clan's verification. The history of the clan must be verified, and then they are registered one by one."

"If they want to be safely registered, they must pay a very heavy amount of spiritual resources."

Jiang Yuhe asked, "How heavy?"

The middle-aged Cultivator extended a finger and tapped gently on the counter.

"It is almost enough to be worth a spiritual object that could catch an Immortal's Dharma Eye."

Jiang Yuhe's expression finally changed slightly.

The middle-aged Cultivator smiled bitterly, "It is expensive, but if they can afford it, the Song Clan will find a spiritual land for them to settle. It cannot be called the best landscape, but it is enough to establish the clan, settle down, and receive the protection of the Yanque Circuit registry."

Jiang Yuhe asked, "What if they cannot afford it?"

"Then they will be temporarily incorporated into the Song Clan's military registry."

The middle-aged Cultivator said, "It is called a military registry, but it does not completely restrict their movements. They can still cultivate on their own and move about freely; it is just that in terms of status, they are under the command of the Song Clan."

"If they accumulate military merit in the future, they can shed the military registry and be formally listed as a Yanque Circuit Family."

"At that time, the Song Clan will also choose a better spiritual land for them to multiply and develop."

Speaking of this, he sighed softly.

"It is just that the words 'military merit' sound nice, but when they fall on a person, it means exchanging one's life for it."

Jiang Yuhe was silent for a moment, then took two Spirit Stones from her sleeve and placed them on the counter.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for clearing up my confusion."

Seeing the Spirit Stones, the smile on the middle-aged Cultivator's face became much more genuine.

"Fellow Daoist, you are too polite."

He put the Spirit Stones into his sleeve and cupped his hands, saying, "Fellow Daoist, your Qi is pure and upright; one can tell at a glance that you are a person of good background. This trip to Nanjin will surely go smoothly. If you need to inquire about trade routes, spiritual materials, or other matters in the future, just come to the Chengjin Chamber of Commerce to find me."

Jiang Yuhe nodded and turned to leave the Chamber of Commerce.

Outside the Chamber of Commerce, the long street was teeming with people.

She walked into a narrow alley next to the Chengjin Chamber of Commerce.

On both sides of the alley were ordinary dwellings, with bundles of firewood piled against the walls and dried medicinal herbs hanging under the eaves.

Dozens of steps further in, there was a small courtyard with the gate half-open, and the threshold had been wiped very clean.

At the entrance, an old woman was bending over, sweeping the floor.

She was very old, with gray hair, and had no cultivation at all; she was just a Mortal.

Seeing Jiang Yuhe approach, she quickly put down her broom and bowed respectfully.

"Miss Jiang has returned."

She dared not call her Senior.

Jiang Yuhe had told them before that calling her Senior felt awkward, and calling her Immortal Master was too distant.

For the past few days, the Yan Family had been calling her "Miss Jiang," which was not considered lacking in propriety.

Jiang Yuhe nodded slightly.

The old woman turned and shouted toward the inner room, "Qingju, Miss Jiang has returned."

As soon as the words fell, a burst of hurried footsteps came from the room.

Yan Qingju came running out, holding half a bag of hot chestnuts in his hands, with a few chestnut shell crumbs sticking to the corner of his mouth.

Seeing Jiang Yuhe standing in front of the courtyard gate, he quickly stuffed the chestnuts into his bosom, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and hurried up to meet her.

Compared to a few days ago, his demeanor was much closer now, and even his bow carried a touch of familiarity.

"Master."

The young boy's eyes lit up, and he asked in a low voice, "How did the inquiries go?"