Chapter 757: Meeting the King of Wei for the First Time

Hearing this, Xuan Chengzi was stunned.

"Mister, are you truly..."

He couldn't quite believe it.

A single character to safeguard the mountain!

This was a tremendous opportunity for Qingxian Temple.

How could Xuan Chengzi bear to refuse?

Chen Changsheng said, "Just consider it This Chen leaving a safeguard for an old acquaintance's resting place."

Xuan Chengzi lifted his robes and immediately knelt.

"This poor Daoist thanks you, Mister, on behalf of the cultivators of Qingxian Temple!"

Chen Changsheng helped him up and said, "It is but a minor matter."

Xuan Chengzi was thrilled. Having this one character was like having a protective talisman. At the very least, it guaranteed that Qingshan City would have a foundation to fall back on in times of crisis.

He silently etched this kindness into his heart.

The two returned to the Main Hall from the mountain stream.

Xuan Chengzi ordered his disciples to fetch the Four Treasures of the Study. They brought premium paper and the finest ink, brimming with Spiritual Energy and boundlessly profound.

He stood before the table; absolutely no one else was present in the hall.

Xuan Chengzi asked, "Mister, what character do you think would be best to write?"

Chen Changsheng pondered for a moment before looking at Xuan Chengzi. "What does the Priest think?"

Xuan Chengzi gave a helpless smile. "This poor Daoist wouldn't dare make that decision."

Chen Changsheng paused. "Why don't I write the character for 'Clear'?"

"Like the 'Green' in our temple's name?"

"No, 'Clear', as in clear water."

Chen Changsheng continued, "Add a stroke of water to the green, and add a stroke of destiny. What does the Priest think?"

Xuan Chengzi paused at those words, but offered no objection. He simply cupped his hands. "It is entirely up to you, Mister."

Chen Changsheng nodded and set his brush to the paper.

With fluid, serpentine strokes, the character for 'Clear' took shape on the paper.

Yet this character looked rather ordinary.

It showed no divine charm and emitted no unusual brilliance.

It looked just like any character written on a normal day.

Chen Changsheng set the brush down. With a wave of his sleeve, the ink dried completely.

Xuan Chengzi stared at the character, his heart surging with excitement.

Ordinary eyes naturally couldn't see the formidable power of this character. Only by observing it with his Dharma Eye could Xuan Chengzi glimpse a trace of heaven and earth's Daoist rhythm within the faint ink.

Even with his level of Dao Cultivation, he could only perceive this tiny fraction.

A single character to safeguard the mountain—it was no empty claim!

"Thank you, Mister," Xuan Chengzi hurriedly expressed his gratitude.

Chen Changsheng smiled warmly. "It is just a minor matter. The Priest needn't be so polite."

Just as they spoke, a knock came from the door.

A disciple of the temple had arrived.

The disciple quickly announced, "Master, Prince Wei is waiting outside the temple."

Hearing this, Xuan Chengzi said, "This poor Daoist knows. I will head out shortly."

The disciple then withdrew.

Chen Changsheng looked at Xuan Chengzi and asked, "Prince Wei also believes in the Dao?"

Xuan Chengzi replied, "Prince Wei is not a lay Daoist, but his understanding of certain matters happens to coincide with the principles of the Daoist Gate. In his early years, he would often come to the mountain to converse with me—first to ask about state affairs, and second to discuss agriculture and the common people."

He paused and looked at Mister Chen. "Mister Chen, why don't you come with this poor Daoist to meet Prince Wei?"

Chen Changsheng said, "This Chen was just thinking the same."

Before coming here, he had often heard people say that the citizens in the King of Wei's lands lived in comfort, but he had never actually met the man.

"After you, Mister."

The two walked out the doors of the Main Hall one after another.

Xuan Chengzi and Chen Changsheng arrived at the temple gates together.

Prince Wei was a man who strictly followed the rules. He had waited at the entrance the entire time, never trying to force his way into the mountain gates just because he was the King of Wei.

The temple gates opened.

A man with a tall, straight posture and kind eyes stood before the gates. Behind him stood two guards, each carrying a saber and sword.

This man was the King of Wei.

Xuan Chengzi cupped his hands. "Greetings, King of Wei."

The King of Wei smiled warmly and returned the gesture. "It has been many days since we last met. How is the Priest's health?"

Xuan Chengzi smiled. "Thank you for your concern, King of Wei. This poor Daoist is doing perfectly fine."

The King of Wei looked at the azure-robed gentleman beside Xuan Chengzi. Seeing him come out alongside Xuan Chengzi, he asked, "And this is...?"

Xuan Chengzi introduced him. "This is Mister Chen. He is an old friend of our ancestral master."

Chen Changsheng cupped his hands. "This Chen greets the King of Wei."

The King of Wei returned the bow. "Greetings, Mister Chen."

The group then entered the temple.

The King of Wei's guards, however, remained outside.

The guards carried a heavy aura of blood and violence, making it inappropriate for them to enter the hall. They had previously gotten into an argument with the Daoist boys at the gate over this very rule, and it was only after the King of Wei arrived that the matter had been settled.

Xuan Chengzi invited the King of Wei to a pavilion behind the temple.

Tea and pastries were served.

After sitting down, the King of Wei spoke. "When I last came here to discuss agriculture with the Priest, the measures we implemented indeed had miraculous results. However, the weather has suddenly shifted. A drought has unexpectedly struck the north of my fiefdom, and I cannot help but worry."

Xuan Chengzi said, "Your Highness, the weather and celestial phenomena are the will of heaven. Yuanchuan borders the Tongtian River and has a constant water source. Even with a drought, it won't necessarily lead to any severe consequences."

The King of Wei shook his head. "Back in the era of the Grand Ancestor of Xiang, the Jing people rebelled and occupied this very Qingshan City. What followed were two years of drought with zero harvest, which ultimately caused the Jing people's rebel army to collapse entirely. With such a precedent, this king must take preventative measures."

Xuan Chengzi paused before shaking his head. "The King of Wei is truly putting this poor Daoist in a difficult position. This poor Daoist is a cultivator; my knowledge is not all-encompassing. How could I offer advice on matters of water conservation and the seasons? Perhaps Your Highness should ask the strategists under your command instead."

The King of Wei smiled helplessly. "This king is merely idling about. I just wanted to voice my concerns."

He suddenly paused and looked at the azure-robed gentleman sitting to the side. "I was so focused on talking that I nearly forgot about this Mister."

Chen Changsheng smiled warmly. "This Chen just happened to be visiting. Please, continue your chat. Do not mind This Chen."

"Still, we shouldn't leave Mister out."

The King of Wei asked, "The Priest mentioned that Mister is an old friend of his ancestral master?"

Chen Changsheng nodded. "It is a matter from my early years."

"But Mister looks very young."

"An elder of This Chen's was once old friends with Priest Xuan Chengzi's ancestral master."

"I see."

The King of Wei asked, "If that's the case, is Mister Chen also a cultivator?"

Chen Changsheng thought about it for a moment. "Yes, and no."

"Yes, and no?"

"Just that I am not pure in my pursuits," Chen Changsheng said. "This Chen previously heard Priest Xuan Chengzi mention the King of Wei. This lack of purity is likely quite similar to the King of Wei's."

The King of Wei immediately understood. "After all, this king is a prince. In these chaotic times, my concerns lie with the commoners and the politics of the state. Therefore, I am not pure either."

Chen Changsheng said, "This Chen is a bit different. This Chen is a lazy and free-spirited person who finds a bit of interest in everything he sees. I learn a little here and a little there, so I can hardly be considered pure."

The King of Wei nodded. "Living like that, Mister is quite unfettered and at ease."

"You could say that."

Chen Changsheng smiled before asking, "This Chen heard that the King of Wei currently resides in the former King Yu's Manor?"

The King of Wei paused. "King Yu's Manor?"

"The King of Wei does not know?"

"Well, this king has never heard anyone mention it."

Chen Changsheng said, "During Jingshi, that was the manor built by King Yu. Perhaps the name was changed later on, which is why the King of Wei is unaware?"