Chapter 109: Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Qi

After leaving Guling Commandery, Li Shun and his companions headed south all the way, crossing Yang Province and passing through Yuzhang Commandery before officially entering the territory of Jing Province.

Jiuyi Commandery. Lihuo County.

"Whew... it's so hot."

Li Shun wiped the fine beads of sweat from his forehead and tilted back his head, taking a long gulp of water.

The Moonlit White beneath him was no better off. Its nostrils flared as it snorted heavily, while its snow-white mane had long since been soaked through with sweat.

"This place is less than thirty miles from Yuzhang Commandery, yet the climates are as different as heaven and earth. Back in Yuzhang, it was still the dead of winter. But the moment we crossed this mountain range, it felt as though we'd stepped straight into midsummer."

Only after catching his breath did Li Shun voice his amazement.

Li Qing had already reached the upper-grade Spirit Resonance Realm. With his protective principles circulating through his body, ordinary heat could no longer affect him.

Even so, as he looked at the distant air shimmering and twisting beneath the scorching temperature, he secretly clicked his tongue.

"It's only the second month of the year, yet it's already this hot. What will it be like in the sixth month? How do ordinary people even survive here?"

Duan Jiuzhang was equally unaffected. In fact, he seemed rather comfortable in Jiuyi Commandery's humid heat.

Squinting his eyes, he smiled and said, "Different lands nurture different people. Aside from Central Juntian, where the Directorate of Celestial Observation uses grand formations to regulate yin and yang so that all four seasons resemble spring, the other Eight Heavens each possess their own peculiarities."

"The Southern Yantian is like a furnace throughout the year. Endless mountain ranges stretch for hundreds of thousands of miles, while poisonous miasma fills the wilderness."

He pointed toward the ground beneath their feet and continued calmly,

"If the Thirteen Provinces represent the administrative boundaries of the mortal world, then the Nine Heavens mark the divisions of Heavenly Dao's laws."

"Great Qian has always followed the principle of harmonizing with heaven. Thus the capital region corresponds to Central Juntian, while the other eight provinces each mirror one of the Eight Directional Heavens."

"The people of Southern Yantian are born and raised in such conditions. Their bodies have long adapted to this heat. Let alone Lihuo County. Even beneath the legendary Jiuyi Mountains, where the earth's fire veins erupt from below, mortal communities continue to thrive."

At this point, he turned and glanced at Li Shun, whose face was still flushed despite the protection of principle-character talismans.

After a moment of thought, Duan Jiuzhang said, "Forget it. Yunguan County isn't far from here anymore, and there's no need to rush. Let's find somewhere cool and rest for a while first."

Li Shun felt as though he'd received a royal pardon and immediately cupped his hands in thanks.

The three entered the county seat and found a teahouse to rest.

A bowl of hot tea went down his throat.

Its refreshing bitterness spread across the back of his tongue, gradually dispersing the oppressive heat that had accumulated in his chest and abdomen.

"This Red Blossom Tea is a specialty of the Jiuyi Mountains."

Holding his teacup, Duan Jiuzhang spoke knowledgeably about the products of Southern Yantian.

"It lacks the crisp fragrance of truly exceptional teas, but its lingering aftertaste is second to none."

"It's common for outsiders to suffer from acclimatization issues when they first enter Yantian. Drinking this tea helps harmonize the body's qi circulation. It's especially effective for relieving heat and thirst."

Feeling the warm current spreading through his body, Li Shun nodded.

"I do feel much better."

"Let's rest a little longer before continuing our journey."

Concerned for Feng Guan's safety, Li Shun had no desire to linger unnecessarily.

Just as he spoke, a deafening commotion suddenly erupted from the street outside the teahouse. A massive procession was making its way through the city.

The leader wore an ancient ceremonial robe embroidered with patterns of blazing flames and flowing clouds. Behind him followed a long line of participants beating drums and gongs while suonas wailed toward the heavens.

The atmosphere was both solemn and fervent.

Along both sides of the street, the townspeople who had been busy with their daily work abruptly stopped what they were doing.

Expressions of reverence appeared on their faces.

One after another, they knelt directly on the ground, pressed their foreheads against the street, and repeatedly kowtowed.

"What are they doing?"

Li Qing stared at the sea of kneeling people in confusion.

Duan Jiuzhang observed the procession for a moment before his gaze deepened slightly.

"Judging by the ceremonial escort, this should be the annual procession honoring Lord Ge."

"Lord Ge?"

"Ge Linfeng."

Duan Jiuzhang slowly spoke the name, his tone carrying unmistakable respect.

"He served as an official in Jiuyi Commandery for two hundred years. From the day he stepped onto this scorched land, he never left again."

"Qing Province produced Ge Linfeng, but Jiuyi gained Lord Ge Qingtian."[1]

"For two centuries, he watched over this place. In the eyes of Jiuyi's people, he had long since become a true son of Jiuyi."

Looking toward the procession, he continued, "While alive, Ge Linfeng loved the people as though they were his own children. No matter how trivial the matter, he personally handled it."

"In this land of blazing heat, not a single wrongful conviction occurred under his governance during those two hundred years."

"He truly entered the hearts of the common people."

"When he passed away, all of Jiuyi mourned him in plain white garments."

"The people voluntarily erected golden statues in his honor and built shrines for him. The incense offerings have continued without interruption to this day."

"Every year on the anniversary of his death, the people organize several days of memorial ceremonies."

"The first day of the third month..."

Duan Jiuzhang calculated the date before glancing toward a certain location within the city.

"Since we've already come this far and happened to arrive at the right time, accompany me."

"Let's pay our respects to an old friend."

Li Shun and Li Qing exchanged a glance.

Both sensed the nostalgia and heaviness hidden within Duan Jiuzhang's voice and immediately agreed with solemn expressions.

Following the procession, they soon arrived outside Lord Ge's Shrine.

Two lines of powerful calligraphy were carved into the stone pillars:

[While Lord Ge lived, his presence felt ordinary; but since his passing, none can be found to equal his greatness.]

Li Shun repeatedly pondered the words, his expression becoming somewhat strange.

"It seems the people of Jiuyi aren't particularly satisfied with the current commandery governor."

To his surprise, a trace of embarrassment flashed across Duan Jiuzhang's face.

"Ahem..."

"The successor has actually done his utmost."

"It's simply that the predecessor was too extraordinary."

"Compared to Lord Ge, he's still lacking by quite a margin."

He then sighed quietly.

"Great Qian has stood for over five hundred years."

"Among all its officials, only a handful have ever earned the heartfelt title of 'Qingtian' from the people."

Li Shun was perceptive.

Seeing Duan Jiuzhang's unusual reaction, he immediately guessed that the current governor likely had some connection to the old senior.

Without hesitation, he wisely dropped the subject.

The three did not enter immediately. Instead, they stood respectfully outside and waited while the townspeople completed their offerings one by one.

Li Shun observed silently.

The reverence these people displayed was clearly not mere ritual.

Some quietly recounted how Lord Ge had once cleared their families of false accusations.

Others, now elderly and bent with age, stroked the shrine's stone walls while weeping openly, choking on their tears.

"How long has Lord Ge been gone?" Li Shun asked.

After calculating briefly, Duan Jiuzhang let out a long sigh.

"Fifty-six years."

Li Shun was visibly moved.

"Even after fifty-six years, the people still mourn him as though they had lost a parent."

"This Lord Ge was truly remarkable."

Only after the crowds dispersed and incense smoke filled the air did the three finally enter the main hall.

Duan Jiuzhang straightened his robes, bowed three times, and respectfully offered a stick of incense.

Li Shun and Li Qing followed behind him.

Then, at the moment Li Shun lowered the incense into the burner and raised his head toward the statue...

His gaze met the eyes of the clay-and-gold effigy.

The statue of Lord Ge looked downward slightly.

An indescribable compassion radiated from its face.

Those eyes seemed to pierce through space itself, silently and profoundly observing him.

At that instant, an absurd yet incomparably clear thought suddenly arose within Li Shun's heart.

‘Lord Ge...’

‘didn't seem to be truly dead.’

Rather, he appeared to still exist within this world in some unknown form.

The moment that thought emerged, a deafening peal of thunder suddenly exploded beside Li Shun's ears.

It was as though an ancient beast sleeping within the depths of his sea of consciousness had abruptly turned over.

Li Shun froze.

Then every hair on his body stood on end.

He instantly sensed the source of that thunderous rumbling.

"That's..."

"Fangcun!"

...

[1]: 葛青天 (Ge Qingtian): "Qingtian" literally translates to "Clear Sky." In Chinese culture, this is a highly respectful honorific traditionally given to incorruptible, just, and upright officials who protect the common people (most famously, Bao Qingtian).