Chapter 789: Reopening the Temple Fair

After returning, the King of Wei pondered for a long time.

He felt that Chen Changsheng had a point.

It made sense, but not a lot.

And that was, in fact, exactly the case.

"Perhaps," "maybe," "possibly"—Chen Changsheng always slipped such words into his sentences, proving his own intentions were definitely mixed into the matter.

Prince Wei shook his head. He still had to consider this matter carefully.

The Temple Fair was no minor matter.

Once Qingshan City's population surged, no matter how effective their previous measures were, it would be difficult to guarantee no one would try to fish in troubled waters.

Prince Wei sighed softly. He looked up, his gaze falling on the rising sun in the distance.

In comparison, he was far more curious about what cultivators were actually like.

He had befriended Xuan Chengzi in his early years, yet up to now, he had never witnessed any divine methods. Meeting Chen Changsheng had stirred his curiosity about cultivators all over again.

But it stopped at curiosity.

The King of Wei knew where to draw the line.

The deeds of Yan Xun, the ruler who had doomed his nation, served as a warning to the world, just as the later actions of the Grand Ancestor of Xiang stood as an admonition to future generations. How could he become obsessed with such things?

"Fascinating."

A smile tugged at the corners of Prince Wei's mouth as he continued down the road back to his estate.

.

.

By the time afternoon arrived.

The Local Government posted a public notice.

It informed the common people that the Temple Fair would be permitted this year.

"The Temple Fair?!"

"Are they really holding it this year?"

"Oh my, it hasn't been held for quite a few years now."

"What Temple Fair?"

"Heh, you're from out of town, so it's normal you don't know. This Temple Fair..."

"It sounds... very lively."

"Extremely lively!"

News that the Temple Fair had been permitted again spread quickly. Before long, nearly everyone in Qingshan City knew about it.

The outsiders who had arrived over the past two years were mostly curious. The majority were hearing about this Temple Fair for the first time, but as they listened to the vivid descriptions from those around them, daydreams gradually sprouted in their minds.

Ever since the world plunged into chaos, aside from the New Year, they had never seen such a lively event.

How could this not make people happy?

That same afternoon, a few extra sticks of incense were burned in the Dragon King Temple of Qingshan City.

Most of these came from vendors planning to set up at the Temple Fair, coming to pray for wealth. It was customary, much like paying respects to the local docks when doing business out of town. After all, they would be trading on the Dragon King's turf. In addition, they dropped a little money into the merit box. Although it was not much, it was the thought that counted.

Chen Changsheng was drinking tea in the tea house when he heard about the matter.

It was Master Jin San who told him.

Chen Changsheng was rather surprised. "So fast..."

He had assumed Prince Wei would need more time to consider it, but unexpectedly, the notice had gone straight up that afternoon.

This was truly...

Master Jin San smiled. "Speaking of which, I've never even experienced this Temple Fair."

"Hmm?" Chen Changsheng paused.

Master Jin San said, "The Temple Fair only started after the Rebel Army arrived, didn't it? I was out of town during those years. I came back once later, but didn't stay long before heading to the Capital City with Cao Fa. And then came the Rebellion of the Seven Kings..."

He had missed all of it.

Chen Changsheng nodded. "Then you really must take a good look this time. It should be especially lively this year."

Master Jin San said, "I was thinking of renting a stall to sell some storybooks. What does Mister think?"

Chen Changsheng paused for a moment, then nodded. "That's not a bad idea. Which storybooks do you plan to sell?"

Master Jin San chuckled. "Mister's Strange Tales is definitely indispensable. Next would be Strange Tales from the Mountains and Wilds, and then I'll round it out with a few miscellaneous books."

Chen Changsheng said, "Years ago, I heard people say that Strange Tales from the Mountains and Wilds had become a representative work for tales of gods, ghosts, and the bizarre. You must have poured a lot of effort into it over the years, but fortunately, you have achieved success and fame."

Master Jin San said, "I cannot compare to Mister. I cannot compare."

Chen Changsheng waved his hand. "This Chen did not write Strange Tales, yet you wrote Strange Tales from the Mountains and Wilds stroke by stroke, word by word, from what you saw and heard. It is This Chen who cannot compare to you."

Master Jin San gave a helpless smile, knowing Mister was just being modest.

He glanced at Mister, yet couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Speaking of which, this student is also a bit curious. Why does Mister never admit to writing Strange Tales?"

Chen Changsheng looked at him. "It really wasn't written by This Chen. This Chen merely read it, that is all."

"Is that so..."

Master Jin San did not quite understand.

He gave Mister another look.

Only to see Chen Changsheng say earnestly, "It really wasn't."

Master Jin San paused, then asked, "If it wasn't Mister, then who wrote it?"

"Mister Liuxian."

Master Jin San paused and asked, "Is he also an Immortal, just like Mister?"

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps."

Master Jin San seemed to understand as he nodded. "No wonder..."

That seemed to make sense as well.

He felt that Strange Tales perhaps wasn't written for fame in the first place. Whenever he read it, he felt it was more like a travelogue; perhaps it truly contained the lifelong experiences and observations of that Mister Liuxian that Mister had mentioned.

After finishing his tea, Chen Changsheng returned to Chuanfeng Alley.

Yu Hongjin eagerly came looking for Chen Changsheng and said, "Did you hear? The Temple Fair is reopening this year."

Chen Changsheng nodded. "This Chen also just heard."

Yu Hongjin smiled. "Heh, I wonder if I can trade for some good wine to drink this year."

"Trade for wine?" Chen Changsheng paused.

Yu Hongjin said, "Of course you wouldn't know. Let me tell you, the people at the Temple Fair come from all corners of the world, and quite a few of them wander the jianghu. Hardly any of them go without a drink or a wine pot. Many bring wine from their hometowns. The people are from all over, and so is the wine. I just use Qingshan City's wine to trade with them, and plenty of them are more than happy to do it. They're even willing to give me a pot of top-tier wine."

Chen Changsheng understood. "You really rack your brains for a drink. If only you were this clever on a normal day."

Yu Hongjin narrowed her eyes at him. "Do you think I'm that silly cat, that I can't tell you're insulting me?"

Chen Changsheng laughed. "That wasn't what I meant at all. How is this insulting you? This is called offering advice."

"You're making excuses for insulting me?"

"Ahem..."

Yu Hongjin pouted. "When I trade for good wine later, I definitely won't share any with you. Blegh!"

As she spoke, she stuck out her tongue.

"If you won't share, then you won't share."

Chen Changsheng laughed, then asked, "Speaking of which..."

"Have Ruyi and Lihua come back in recent years?"

Yu Hongjin shook her head and said, "They haven't come back. But they did send a letter earlier, addressed to Auntie, and had me pass it on."

"Is that so." Chen Changsheng paused and asked, "The Auntie you mentioned, is she Wang Sanniang?"

"Yeah."

Chen Changsheng thought to himself that it had been quite a few years since he had last seen Wang Sanniang as well.