Chapter 271: Chapter 209: Parting the Clouds to See the Blue Sky
Thousands of miles away in Shu State, the sky was overcast, and a light rain drizzled down.
But here in the north, above the Capital Prefecture, the sky was clear for a thousand miles.
At noon, sometime after the Beginning of Autumn, the bright sun blazed down, making the two-hundred-year-old Wind and Rain Pavilion south of the Imperial City shine as if it were brand new.
Shafts of hazy light streamed through the glazed, latticed windows.
It bathed the spacious room deep on the third floor in a brilliant golden sheen.
A man wearing a white tiger pattern mask stood before a long table, holding a thick-tipped White Jade Wolf Hair Brush.
He dipped it in Hui Ink, then flourished it across the soft Smoke Water Paper, writing the three words: "Post-rain Reflections."
Following that were four lines of a poem: "At dawn, I leave Bai Di, draped in vibrant clouds; a thousand miles to Jiangling, I’ll return in a day."
"The cries of monkeys on both banks are endless, yet my light boat has passed ten thousand mountains."
This was none other than "Post-rain Reflections," written by Chen Yi.
However, Chen Yi had written it in Cursive Script, his every stroke exuding an unrestrained elegance.
But the man in the white tiger pattern mask wrote in Wei Qing’s Style.
Each stroke—every horizontal and vertical line—was rugged and bold.
Even with its smooth, flowing execution, the style didn’t match the Mental Realm evoked by the poem—one of "crossing ten thousand mountains to find the light."
Thus, after he finished writing, the man in the white tiger pattern mask stared at the Mental Realm materializing above the Smoke Water Paper, silent for a long time.
Even the red-robed White Tiger Guard kneeling before him had a strange look in his eyes.
’The Pavilion Master... he’s also reached Perfect Calligraphy Dao?!’
Before he could dwell on it, the "Pavilion Master" he was thinking of asked, "How did the secret report describe that ’Post-rain Reflections’?"
He bowed his head and replied, "Effortless and free, as if riding the wind."
The Pavilion Master nodded slightly, dropped the White Jade Wolf Hair Brush, and stared at the Mental Realm materializing before him—
A vast range of towering mountains, majestic and lofty, rose thousands of feet above the white clouds.
A city stood in the clouds, spanning the peaks of two mountains.
Within it were magnificent palaces, massive walls, and thousands of soldiers in Heavy Armor standing guard, along with heavy crossbows and other weapons that radiated a chilling aura.
Below the mountains, the "boat" could no longer be described as a "light boat"; it was a fleet of warships.
They were organized in formations, vast and mighty.
And he himself, dressed as a "General" in a white robe over Silver Armor, with a white tiger pattern mask on his face, stood at the prow.
With a raise of his hand, the warships raced along the river winding through the mountains.
They smashed through mountains and slaughtered any enemies in their path, crossing thousands of miles in an instant.
Finally, a dense forest of banners was planted in a land bathed in sunlight.
The White Robed Pavilion Master looked at the scene and chuckled inexplicably. "My light boat has passed ten thousand mountains... Not bad."
The White Robed Pavilion Master offered this calm praise, then his ice-cold eyes fell upon the red-robed White Tiger Guard before him.
"Ji Qing, what is your take on this line?"
The red-robed White Tiger Guard, Ji Qing, thought for a moment before answering, "This line of poetry has a feeling of ’breaking through the dark clouds to see the light again.’"
"This subordinate believes that the Fledgling has become much more open-minded than before."
The White Robed Pavilion Master said faintly, "It seems he has seen a sliver of hope... Not bad."
Ji Qing’s body trembled slightly. This was the second "not bad" he had heard from the Pavilion Master.
As the one who had followed the "Pavilion Master" the longest, he understood—the Pavilion Master was truly furious.
With that thought, Ji Qing said cautiously, "Perhaps it is because he achieved Perfect Calligraphy Dao?"
The White Robed Pavilion Master’s tone was noncommittal. "Perfect Calligraphy Dao would allow him to make a name for himself throughout the Nine State and Three Prefectures. It certainly has the power to ’part the clouds and see the blue sky.’"
Then his tone shifted. "However, I don’t believe that’s the case."
"The two words ’light boat’ might be a pun on his name, but looking at everything that has happened in Shu State recently, doesn’t it also apply to the Xiao Family?"
Ji Qing froze, raising his head slightly to glance at his master. He hesitated. "Pavilion Master, are you saying the Fledgling knew in advance that someone was going to burn the summer grain in the Three Towns?"
"But according to Hawk, the Fledgling has been living in seclusion."
"Aside from occasionally visiting Guiyun Academy to teach Calligraphy Dao, the few times he went out were on behalf of Xiao Wan’er to discuss the expansion of the Hundred Herbs Hall."
"How could he have learned about Bright Moon Building, the Liu Family, and Gray Wolf moving against the Xiao Family?"
"And how could he have possibly predicted that the Xiao Family would be able to turn the crisis into an opportunity?"
"Unless..."
Before he could finish, the White Robed Pavilion Master raised a hand slightly, cutting him off. "I want the whole story, not speculation and inference."
"Forgive me, Pavilion Master. This subordinate will immediately send orders to Lady Tiger and have her investigate the Fledgling thoroughly."
The white-robed figure glanced at him and reminded him in a cold tone, "Ask where the Fledgling was on the night the Three Towns were attacked."
Ji Qing quickly bowed his head in acknowledgment.
Just as he was about to rise and leave, he heard the White Robed Pavilion Master continue his instructions:
"Relay my orders to the General. Tell him I approve his plan. Have him start as soon as possible."
"Also, as for Simurgh Phoenix, if she wants to stay in Shu State, then let her stay there."
"As for the Jing State Liu Family... internal strife has already erupted. They are bringing about their own destruction. Pay them no mind."
Just then, two knocks came from the door. The white-robed figure paused. "What is it?"
"Reporting to the Pavilion Master, a message has come from the palace. The Holy Emperor commands your immediate presence."
"Prepare the sedan chair."
"Yes, sir."
After the person outside had left, the white-robed figure looked at Ji Qing, who was still kneeling, and waved a hand.
"Go and rewrite the secret report on Liu Wen’s death. I need to take it to the palace for my audience with the Holy Emperor."
"Remember, state clearly that the Jing State Liu Family is suspected of treason. And that the Xiao Family knowingly concealed this information, harboring malicious intent."
Ji Qing froze upon hearing this, then pressed his forehead to the floor. "This subordinate obeys!"
Then, he rose, took a few steps back, and turned to leave.
After a moment of silence, the White Robed Pavilion Master glanced at the illusory image floating above the table, a thoughtful look appearing in his cold, indifferent eyes.
"Qingzhou has grown."
"A pity. A scholar can play with his brush for a lifetime, but in the end, he is still just an ant."
As he spoke, the White Robed Pavilion Master gently picked up the sheet of Smoke Water Paper, from which the magnificent Mental Realm had manifested.
