Chapter 159: Jiangxi Dragon and Tiger, Jiangdong Xuanyuan

It is widely known that Jianzhou has the saying, "Dragons and Tigers in Jiangxi, Xuanyuan in Jiangdong."

Jianzhou is divided into two by the Shejiang River: Jiangxi is home to the Dragons and Tigers, and Jiangdong to Xuanyuan. The former is the ancestral seat of Taoism, where the Zhao family, bearing the same surname as the Emperor, has inherited the Taoist lineage for over sixty generations, upholding the mandate of heaven for 1,600 years. Dragon Tiger Mountain, spanning a hundred miles, is the foundational mountain of the Celestial Masters' sect, with the Celestial Master's Residence at its core. Its peaks confront each other like battling dragons and tigers, with vibrant green mountains and clear waters, and rising purple mist, forming a breathtakingly beautiful landscape. Broadly speaking, the Taoist region of Dragon Tiger Mountain is even more vast, with nearly half of the area west of the Shejiang River belonging to this Taoist immortal city. It is renowned as "Zhang of the North, Zhao of the South" alongside the Zhang family in the North, which produced a paramount sage and eternal teacher, with the Northern Sage and Southern Immortal complementing each other for a millennium.

The master and his apprentice emerged from a dilapidated Taoist temple at the foot of Dragon Tiger Mountain and drifted downstream on a bamboo raft. The slovenly old Taoist, holding a pole, spewed spittle as he introduced local customs and sights of Jianzhou to his naive apprentice, who was leaning over the raft, trying to catch fish. "Leaving aside our Dragon Tiger Mountain," he began, "the Xuanyuan family in Jiangdong, given their ability to stand alongside Dragon Tiger Mountain in Jianzhou, is truly remarkable. Though unluckily located in the same province as our Taoist ancestral seat, they have only been slightly inferior for centuries. What's even more commendable is that this family does not enter officialdom. In times of chaos, let chaos reign; in times of peace, let peace prevail – they simply cultivate themselves and manage their household, remaining steadfast. It's strange to say, but Xuanyuan only engages in martial arts affairs, producing many masters. Jiangxi's Dragon Tiger Mountain is said to have an immortal jade seal inscribed with 'By the Mandate of Heaven' buried beneath it, allowing it to be a place where gods and immortals receive titles and ennoblement. Xuanyuan, however, erected an ancient stele with six characters: 'Enjoying Earthly Serenity Alone.' Whether it's true or false is long beyond verification. It's not that I, your master, am intentionally biased or trying to slander Jiangdong's Xuanyuan. Anyway, when I was young, I asked the old patriarch if there was really a jade seal under the mountain, and he said that Heaven and Earth knew, but he didn't. I'm skeptical, so it's likely Xuanyuan's stele is also pure fabrication."

"This Jiangdong Xuanyuan family is not a Taoist sect, yet they occupy the better part of Huishan Mountain, thus possessing Tianmu Peak, the sixth blessed land among the grotto-heavens. I, your master, used to go there to enjoy the scenery whenever I had free time; the views are no less stunning. Especially the main peak, Guniu Dagang, is purely a massive green stone, resembling a green ox lying serenely while supporting the sky. Below the mountain are six cascading sister waterfalls. Every summer, thousands of carp leap upstream, a truly magnificent sight, akin to the myriad carp emerging from the Tidal Lake at your Beiliang King's Residence. At the same time, because of the legend of a Dragon King imprisoned at the bottom of the pool, it is also called Dragon Gate or Heaven's Gate. Li Chungang, the Sword God, once caused all six waterfalls to flow backward with a single stroke of his sword, even washing away the gate of the Xuanyuan family's mansion built on Guniu Dagang. Li Chungang's famed feat of 'opening Heaven's Gate with a single sword' originated from this very event."

"The current head of the Xuanyuan family should not be weak in martial arts; it's hard to say if he's at the Finger-Profound or Heavenly Phenomenon realm now. However, back then, he successively competed with others in swordplay, blademanship, and internal energy, losing three consecutive matches. It was truly lamentable. There was no helping it; he just had bad luck. When competing against Li Chungang, who was at his peak, how could he not lose? What came later was even worse. Gu Jiantang, then an unknown, fought his way to Guniu Dagang, and the old Xuanyuan fellow, who had only abandoned his sword for a blade ten years prior, lost by half a move. The most ridiculous part was when the old man simply abandoned his weapons. Seeing that Qi Xuanzhen was about to ascend to immortality, he foolishly came to Dragon Tiger Mountain to compete with Qi Xuanzhen in internal energy. At first, Qi Xuanzhen ignored him, but this fellow kept pestering him, staying on the mountain peak for half a year. Wasn't that asking for trouble? He deserved to lose completely. However, despite being unlucky his entire life, this old man's son and grandson turned out remarkably capable, a rare single line of descendants. It's just that their temperaments are too poor, lacking any ethereal quality. They are arrogant, ill-mannered, quick to humiliate others, unable to tolerate others' faults, and unbalanced in yin and yang. No matter how high their martial arts, they would have to respectfully bow to a true Taoist master. Oh, but then again, the Taoist lineage is currently struggling, with few true masters remaining. The old Xuanyuan fellow truly knows how to enjoy life; shameless in his old age, he regresses with each passing day. When he has nothing to do, he engages in dual cultivation with women young enough to be his granddaughters or great-granddaughters. Even a tiger doesn't eat its cubs, but this old man is different. Most of the outstanding women in the family were ruined early on. The best ones were kept as forbidden possessions, while the slightly less desirable ones were sent out to marry. It's a pity that the women of the Xuanyuan family are naturally beautiful. Yet, those aristocratic families who marry Xuanyuan women are not angry but rejoice. The ways of the world and human hearts – I, your master, cannot comprehend them, truly cannot comprehend them."

Lost in his rambling until his throat was dry, the old Taoist punting the raft squatted down, cupped his hands to drink water, and then exclaimed in surprise. He looked up sharply, only to realize that his apprentice had been urinating at the front of the raft. The old Taoist's wrinkled face twisted in disgust as he quickly spat out the stream water, which should have been sweet and clear, and laughingly scolded, "You mischievous apprentice!"

They continued downstream along Qinglong Stream, which eventually merged into Huishan's Dragon King River before flowing into the Shejiang River. The old Taoist looked up and saw a large two-story boat moving upstream. He knew without a doubt it belonged to the Xuanyuan family; only they would dare to flaunt such extravagance all the way to Dragon Tiger Mountain. A two-story boat was the absolute limit for Qinglong Stream; anything larger or taller would run aground. Ordinary scholars and poets seeking scenic beauty could only borrow small rafts from the local fishermen. There were three main routes to tour Dragon Tiger Mountain, each with its own significant implications, categorized as bodily, spiritual, and divine journeys. The bodily journey was the most arduous, traversing mountains and valleys along the incense path. Although it offered a full view of the ancestral seat from the peaks, only two or three tenths of the scenery could be captured along the way. The spiritual journey was superior; one could take several large cable cars, allowing for five or six tenths of the scenery to be appreciated. The divine journey was the best: first, one would raft around the green mountains, then ascend steps on Yunjin Mountain, and finally reach Dragon Tiger Mountain via cable cars suspended between two major peaks, allowing for an unobstructed view of the Taoist immortal realm. Generally, to embark on a divine journey of Dragon Tiger Mountain, one couldn't even dream of it without a strong family background. In recent years, most who managed to enter the Celestial Master's Residence to drink tea, discuss Taoism, and bask in its ethereal aura were brought by that lavish Xuanyuan family. Dragon Tiger Mountain and Xuanyuan had been neighbors for centuries, and it's often said that a distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor. When Xu Rentu trampled the martial arts world into a chaotic mess with his iron hooves, even Dragon Tiger Mountain was not spared. Only the Xuanyuan family dared to bravely come to their aid. Given this immense bond of goodwill, the Celestial Master's Residence naturally held onto their old ties. No matter how much Zhao Xichuan disliked that old Xuanyuan fellow, he couldn't say much.

Xu Longxiang, who appeared sallow and emaciated, continued to lie on the bamboo raft, catching and releasing fish, finding endless joy in the simple act. Old Taoist Zhao Xichuan looked over and saw several young men and women standing at the bow of the boat. He recognized the woman, a cherished treasure of the Xuanyuan family. She had loved slingshots since childhood, and her father, Xuanyuan Puhua, doted on her immensely, melting gold into pellets for his daughter. Whenever she went hunting in spring or autumn, she would shoot dozens of golden pellets, treating gold like dirt. Children from Jiangzuo, hearing of the Xuanyuan 'fairy's' outing, would follow in large groups, waiting for the gold pellets to land so they could frantically scramble to pick them up. She never retrieved them, making it a popular anecdote in the Jiangzuo region of Jianzhou. This woman was slender, dressed in a narrow-sleeved purple robe with a white rhinoceros belt, indistinguishable from men's attire, contrary to the current fashion among noblewomen who preferred wide, open-fronted robes with large sleeves. Had she not tied a silk ribbon around her forehead adorned with a large, high-quality pearl, which added a touch of femininity, her heroic appearance might have led women to mistake her for a handsome and extravagant young master who trained hawks and hounds. On Huishan Mountain, which was like the Xuanyuan family's 'temporary palace,' her attire was even more casual, sometimes including python-embroidered robes and jade belts, far exceeding common standards. Though born into a top-tier family of the dynasty, she possessed a strong wild, unruly aura, often traveling the martial arts world with maids and servants. Most direct descendants of the Xuanyuan family had unusual names, and she was no exception; the woman was named Qingfeng. Almost all women of the Xuanyuan family were stunningly beautiful, each with unique charms, not following a rigid mold. In Jianzhou, there was a custom of drawing lots when a child was born. Xuanyuan Qingfeng did not choose rouge and powder; instead, she picked a small jade sword, truly living up to the name her family bestowed upon her.

Beside Xuanyuan Qingfeng stood two young men. The one on her left wore a short gown, a Huayang scarf, and cloud-patterned shoes. He had a handsome appearance, with red lips that a demure woman might envy. Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, he exuded an air of exceptional distinction. The man on Xuanyuan Qingfeng's right had a broad forehead, a wide face, a tiger-like physique, and a bear-like waist. Interestingly, he also had a baby face, a combination that made him unforgettable. Particularly striking were his eyes, which gleamed with intensity. With Zhao Xichuan's insight as an internal alchemist and qi cultivator, he could tell at a glance that this young man's internal energy was formidable. If given the opportunity, he could undoubtedly reach the first-rank realm, a dream for all martial artists. This young man carried a heavy saber resembling a 'Hundred Refinements Blade,' emitting a sharp, fierce aura. Zhao Xichuan frowned slightly; what immense murderous intent! Could his blademanship have been forged in a pile of corpses? Aside from outsiders, even half the people on Dragon Tiger Mountain did not recognize the Great Celestial Master Zhao Xichuan, especially since this old Taoist, the least like a Zhao family Celestial Master, had not interacted with the Xuanyuan family for nearly twenty years. Xuanyuan Qingfeng naturally did not recognize him. As the bamboo raft and the multi-story boat passed each other on the stream, Xuanyuan Qingfeng, with the same arrogant temperament as the men in her family, completely ignored the slovenly old Taoist and the thin young boy. The handsome and elegant scholar on her left continuously gazed at the peak of Yunjin Mountain, filled with poetic inspiration, looking as though he would compose a hundred poems if he opened his mouth. Only the saber-wielding youth narrowed his eyes, looked at the master and apprentice, and curved his lips into a slight smile. Zhao Xichuan, holding his punting pole, grinned in response.

Xuanyuan Qingfeng glanced at the Song family's 'young phoenix' beside her, feeling a slight sense of disorientation. This person was undoubtedly outstanding. His grandfather, Song Guanhai, was proficient in Buddhist philosophy, skilled in connoisseurship and collection, adept at poetry and prose, expert in calligraphy, and master of ink painting—truly versatile. In his youth, he spent a fortune seeking knowledge and apprenticing under masters; any of Song Guanhai's teachers could be casually named as a distinguished scholar. He studied Taoism under the Great Master Yang Fu of the North and learned painting and calligraphy from Huang Juwang. Song Guanhai diligently pursued his studies, acquiring vast knowledge and a strong memory, eventually integrating everything he learned, growing stronger with age. He founded his own school of 'Heart Enlightenment Studies.' After the unification of Spring and Autumn, he was tasked with compiling the *Complete Works of the Nine Pavilions*, a monumental undertaking of two hundred volumes that took fifteen years. His Imperial Majesty was greatly pleased and specifically granted Master Song the privilege of riding a horse within the Imperial City. Originally, it was anticipated both within and outside the dynasty that Master Song would be appointed Minister of Rites, as was customary, but unexpectedly, he was replaced by the former Libationer of the Imperial Academy. Instead, Song Guanhai was transferred to the Imperial Academy, a post of even greater distinction and honor, which was universally acclaimed. As the older generation of literary giants gradually faded, Song Guanhai became the undisputed leader of the literary world. In recent years, he began conducting his 'Fifteen Reviews,' on the fifteenth of every month, evaluating scholars across the land. This practice gained immense popularity, and once a scholar was personally reviewed by Master Song, their status instantly multiplied a hundredfold. All scholars who received his review regarded Master Song as their teacher.

Even though his grandfather was so exceedingly distinguished, his father, Song Zhiqu, showed a tendency to surpass him, especially in calligraphy, which was hailed as a divine masterpiece. Taking the Imperial Academy as an example, half the students wrote in the 'Song style.' Young Master Song's greatest achievement was his comparison of painting and calligraphy to the Northern and Southern schools of Chan Buddhism, elevating the Northern and disparaging the Southern, which, while suspected of unduly promoting the status of academy painting, gained him immense popularity among northern scholars. Furthermore, Song Zhiqu was the first to define calligraphy realms based on rhythm, method, meaning, and spirit, stating: 'Shu characters derive their rhythm, placing them in the middle rank. Yue characters derive their meaning, placing them in the high rank. Chu characters derive their method, placing them in the first rank. But our dynasty values spirit, thus earning the divine rank.' As soon as this statement was made, the Song family naturally delighted the Emperor once again, who already privately often imitated the Song style. Song Zhiqu was promoted to the Ministry of Rites, appointed Right Vice Minister, and granted the title of Scholar, receiving immense favor.

People couldn't help but wonder, if Master Song could live for another twenty years, and if Huan Wen were to relinquish his position as Left Libationer, wouldn't both Libationer posts at the Imperial Academy become the preserve of the Song father and son?

The Song family had established the foundation of a powerful aristocratic clan in just two generations. With such a grandfather and father, how could this 'young phoenix' of the Song family, standing beside Xuanyuan Qingfeng, be an ordinary person?

Xuanyuan Qingfeng couldn't help but glance to the other side. If the 'young phoenix' Song Keli was a first-class scion of an aristocratic family, then the saber-wielding man of similar age was quite the opposite extreme. Born into poverty in the marketplace, he, by a twist of fate, became a bandit. He coincidentally obtained a half-complete blade manual and became self-taught. Surviving countless life-and-death struggles, he carved out a future for himself. Later, a master of blademanship recognized his innate talent and took him as a final disciple. However, his master's sect was immediately annihilated. He endured humiliation and lay dormant for three years, then struck decisively, killing sixty-two members of his enemy's family, a second-rank master with his third-rank strength. He then acquired another secret manual, vastly increasing his realm, and his blademanship became nearly perfect. Last year, this man ascended Huishan Mountain to Guniu Dagang, standing in the snow for a day and a night to seek advanced blademanship. The family forbade it but allowed him to stay on the mountain, so he practiced his blade alone by the six cascading waterfalls. His character was extremely cold and tenacious. Upon first meeting Xuanyuan Qingfeng, he frankly stated his intention to marry her. Xuanyuan Qingfeng felt neither anger nor joy towards this man, whom her old patriarch called 'wolf-hearted ambition,' but she truly couldn't bring herself to dislike him. Her trip to Dragon Tiger Mountain was partly for sightseeing and relaxation, and partly to capture several unique spiritual beasts from the deep gorges that were exclusive to Dragon Tiger. With him accompanying her, it would save her a lot of effort.

It was the height of summer, and although Dragon Tiger Mountain was cool, the pampered Xuanyuan Qingfeng still returned inside the boat. Can a frog in a well speak of the ocean? Can a summer insect be told of ice? Not so for a family of wealth and status. Just as the Beiliang King's Residence had a large lake to listen to the tides, this multi-story boat contained four large tubs filled with ice stored from winter, brought out from the ice cellar in summer, making the entire cabin as cool as autumn. After sitting down, Xuanyuan Qingfeng looked at the dashing and unconventional Song Keli and smiled, "Young Master Song, it was a great act of kindness for you to escort your esteemed teacher's coffin thousands of miles south."

Song Keli shook his head and replied, "It was only proper."

The saber-wielding youth, sitting quietly with closed eyes and concentrated mind, imperceptibly curved his lips into a faint, subtly mocking smile.

Xuanyuan Qingfeng was naturally cold by nature; even when interacting with Song Keli, she wouldn't deliberately curry favor or engage in excessive pleasantries. Looking at the beautiful mountains and clear waters outside the window, she inexplicably recalled a pair of scoundrels from several years ago, frowning slightly. She had long forgotten those two rascals, but meeting the aristocratic scion Song Keli now made her realize that one of those two rogues had features even more striking than his. Two or three years ago, while traveling in Mianzhou, she encountered two shabbily dressed loafers at the Lantern Festival. One was good-looking but extremely vulgar; the other was unremarkable in appearance, she only vaguely remembered him carrying a comically absurd wooden sword. They met on a narrow path in the Mianzhou lantern market. The good-looking vagabond blocked the way, refusing to yield, smiling hideously, his gaze lingering indecently on her chest, which led to a verbal dispute. She never imagined that the one with the wooden sword was a lunatic; he called a dog on the roadside 'father' a few times, then insanely turned and called her 'mother.' Beside them, an old man with missing front teeth squatted, watching the spectacle, grinning in a particularly unseemly way. How could Xuanyuan Qingfeng ever endure such a bizarre humiliation? She immediately ordered her servants to chase and beat them for several streets, intending to break six dog legs to vent her anger. Unexpectedly, those two scoundrels were inexplicably carried away by the toothless old man, making a clean escape.

The most infuriating thing was that before disappearing, that fellow shouted, "Little girl, remember my surname is Xu. Just you wait, next time we meet, give this lord a 'rabbit-sucks-the-brush'!"

Xuanyuan Qingfeng gritted her teeth, silently vowing, "You, surnamed Xu, don't let me run into you in Jianzhou!"