Chapter 113: Kou Hongying's Reward

At this moment, Wei Tu, though no longer youthful, appeared to be in his thirties—handsome and full of vitality. However, he had already grown frail, with patches of age spots beginning to appear on his skin. This stark contrast caused even Shi Zhen, who had experienced years in the bureaucracy and witnessed many ups and downs in life, to shake his head and sigh. "Brother Shi, after all these years, how is it that you still remember my face?" Wei Tu voiced the question that had been bothering him. Although he and Shi Zhen were of the same generation, they had only met once. He found it hard to understand how, after so many years, Shi Zhen could still remember him and immediately recognize him from a crowd. "Brother Wei, back then, you intentionally lost in the competition. Although you acted well enough to fool most people, you couldn’t deceive me... the one who truly fought against you..." Upon hearing Wei Tu’s question, Shi Zhen's melancholy faded significantly. He stroked his beard and smiled, explaining. It wasn’t merely Wei Tu’s act of deliberately hiding his skills that made Shi Zhen remember him. What truly imprinted him was the fact that after losing to You Hong for the top spot in the martial examination, he had to endure twenty years of political suppression. Had Wei Tu not concealed his abilities, Shi Zhen’s own path might have mirrored Wei Tu’s. Given his own experiences, how could he not remember Wei Tu so profoundly? "Back then, I could distinguish between grudges and resentment, but I still held some resentment against you... believing you were the one who sabotaged my official career." "But now, that’s no longer the case. In my twilight years, to meet you and Brother Fu is a pleasant experience in life." Shi Zhen shook his head and smiled. Afterward, he signaled for his servant to drive the carriage to a nearby spot, laid out a mat on the ground, and invited Wei Tu and Fu Zhizhou to sit and reminisce about the past. From Shi Zhen’s demeanor, Wei Tu felt that his openness was not feigned, given that Shi Zhen was already nearing the end of his years. At such a stage in life, those who were close to death often became more compassionate. After a moment’s thought, Wei Tu and Fu Zhizhou got off their horses and sat across from Shi Zhen. Shi Zhen was aware of his limits, and he didn’t probe Wei Tu for any secrets of the immortal world. Instead, he focused mainly on sharing his own experiences from the past few decades. From Shi Zhen's stories, Wei Tu and Fu Zhizhou learned that the Mountain South rebellion over forty years ago had been an opportunity not just for them, but also for Shi Zhen to turn his fate around. After the examination, Shi Zhen had faced suppression from the influential You family of Mountain South and was sent to a remote village to serve as the county officer. However, this very turn of events had prevented the White Flower County from being taken by the rebel forces immediately. Sensing the dire situation, Shi Zhen rallied the county soldiers and led a small army to aid Qingfeng City. Unfortunately, by the time he arrived, the city had already fallen... Later, Shi Zhen moved to Luonan Dao, where he participated in the war between the countries of Feng and Zheng. He achieved numerous feats and gradually rose through the ranks. Now, Shi Zhen had attained the status of a fourth-grade official and managed military affairs for two provinces. "If I hadn’t met you and Fu brothers, I would have considered my life somewhat acceptable, but now, seeing both of you... I feel differently," Shi Zhen continued, his face taking on a slightly melancholic expression. From being a humble martial artist to becoming a fourth-grade military official, his life had been quite legendary in the mortal world. Local records and official history books might one day mention his deeds. He would be remembered. But— Compared to Wei Tu and Fu Zhizhou, he felt rather insignificant. Cultivators, after all, were in a completely different realm from mortals. They were not comparable. "Brother Wei, I know it’s shameless, but... I would like to ask for a chance for my descendants to receive some guidance on the immortal path. Could you assist in this?" Before parting ways, Shi Zhen deeply bowed and asked Wei Tu for this favor. "Of course." Wei Tu nodded and agreed. For him, this was a small favor—nothing worth refusing. Shi Zhen and he had known each other for many years, even though they were both from different paths. Wei Tu asked Shi Zhen to bring out some paper and a brush. Then, he used his spiritual power to write down the immortal cultivation technique, the "Five Yuan Spirit Body," on the paper, which he had learned from the Martial Luck Pavilion. Once the technique was written down, Wei Tu and Fu Zhizhou did not linger much longer. The two of them mounted their horses and headed toward Baishi Lake. "How I wish..." Shi Zhen muttered to himself, his gaze lingering on Wei Tu and Fu Zhizhou’s departing figures. He sighed, his heart heavy with thought. ... Seven days later. Wei Tu and Fu Zhizhou arrived at Baishi Lake, where they met up with Wei Fei, who had arrived ahead of them. The three of them crossed Baishi Lake and began to ascend the mountain path behind it. Unlike the Tai Xuan Sect, which had set up its main gates in another location, the Mirror Water Pavilion’s entrance was located at the rear mountain of Baishi Lake. Upon arriving at the entrance, Wei Tu took out the invitation from Kou Hong Ying and handed it to the disciple on guard. "Please wait for a moment, Fellow Daoist Wei," the disciple’s attitude changed from casual to respectful as soon as he saw the respectful inscription for Wei Tu on the invitation. A quarter of an hour later, a woman dressed in pink appeared, flying down toward them. "Senior Kou is currently unavailable, but I will lead the three of you to Jin Yu Tower." The woman in pink bowed respectfully before speaking. Upon hearing this, Fu Zhizhou, who had just been happily celebrating Kou Hong Ying’s Foundation Establishment, instantly fell silent. His expression shifted slightly. They were all elders to Kou Hong Ying, and her not greeting them personally could be interpreted as neglecting them. Wei Tu shook his head at the scene in front of him. Without a word, he patted Fu Zhizhou's shoulder lightly, signaling him not to pay attention. "Please, lead the way, Fairy," Wei Tu said, clasping his hands in greeting. The woman in pink gave a slight nod and stepped forward, guiding the way. As they walked, she began to explain the origins of the scenery along the path, detailing how the architecture of Mirror Water Pavilion harmonized with the surrounding landscape. Unlike the tightly packed streets of the marketplace, the buildings of Mirror Water Pavilion were scattered among the peaks, serving more as scenic accents. Along the way, beautiful female cultivators were gathered in dense clusters, resembling a sea of flowers in bloom. It was almost too much for the eyes to take in. Wei Tu and Fu Zhizhou, like many others, quickly collected their thoughts and focused on walking without being distracted. Wei Tu had intended to remind Wei Fei to be cautious and avoid embarrassing themselves in front of others, especially given the matter with Master Wu's disciple. He had kept that on his mind. However, to his surprise, when he looked at Wei Fei, he saw that his expression was calm and collected, just like his own and Fu Zhizhou’s. "Seems like Second Brother understands the situation," Wei Tu thought to himself. Before long, they arrived at the Golden Jade Tower. The Golden Jade Tower was the place of Master Qin’s sect, where the celebration for Kou Hongying’s foundation establishment was held. It was a seven-story tower located near the lake, rising several dozen zhang high. In the sunlight, the Golden Jade Tower, with its golden beams and jade bricks, shone brightly, resembling a crystal tower radiating golden light. As Wei Tu and his companions entered, dozens of cultivators waiting on the first floor immediately turned their gaze towards them. Their expressions were curious, with a hint of disdain. The three of them were clearly not dressed like members of the Mirror Water Pavilion, which was a sect led predominantly by female cultivators, though male cultivators did exist there. Just as they were about to ask about their identities, a graceful young woman in blue descended the stairs. Her arrival silenced the crowd. Everyone lowered their heads respectfully and greeted her with, "Kou Zhenren." It was none other than Kou Hongying. She nodded in acknowledgment and said, "No need for formalities." Then, she approached Wei Tu and the others. With a slight bow, she greeted them warmly. "Uncle Wei, Uncle Fu... and Uncle Wei Fei..." The cultivators around them were taken aback. They hadn’t expected these three to be Kou Hongying’s elders. Previously, they had looked down on them for their obvious outsider appearance, but now they understood. Kou Hongying led them to the fourth floor of the tower, which was where she received close friends and relatives. "Earlier, I intended to greet you all personally when I heard you were here, but a senior brother came by unexpectedly. To avoid any inconvenience, I had Sister Gong take care of your welcome," she explained. With that, she settled them comfortably and seemed to realize that her earlier arrangements were not ideal. She sent a telepathic message to explain further. Hearing this, the three of them relaxed slightly. Soon, more guests arrived—familiar faces of cultivators, most at the later stages of Qi Refinement. During the banquet, Wei Tu overheard a few of them whispering about him and his companions, though their words were not mocking but filled with envy for Kou Hongying’s good fortune. "Normally, for someone like Junior Sister Kou, it would take at least twenty to thirty years, even with the help of seniors. But thanks to the support from her elders, she managed it so much quicker." "I wish I had such reliable elders to help me out." These words reached Wei Tu’s ears, easing some of his concerns about Kou Hongying’s intentions. If she had truly been someone without loyalty, she would have never shared these details with others. After the banquet, Kou Hongying personally saw them off, telling them, "I’ve ascended to Foundation Establishment today, and the promise I made to you more than twenty years ago will not be forgotten. Uncle Wei and Uncle Fu can rest assured." She handed Wei Tu a jade slip. "This contains my experience from breaking through to Foundation Establishment. It’s not worth much, but it’s a token of my gratitude." "If Uncle Fu or Uncle Wei Fei wish for a copy of my experience, please ask Uncle Wei to help." Then, after a brief pause, she added, "Also, Uncle Wei, I still have some leftover spirit herbs from my foundation establishment process. Please accept them as a gift." After a moment of hesitation, Kou Hongying handed him a jade box. "Inside is half a thousand-year-old snow lotus, a gift from my master. It has remarkable effects on foundation establishment. Please, use it wisely, but remember—keep this a secret, to avoid attracting unwanted trouble." Previous Chapter || Next Chapte