Chapter 87: Heavenly Stone (Part Two)

Episode 2: The Pool of Undercurrents

The night was clear and sparkling. A crescent moon hung serenely in the sky, and the Milky Way stretched like a band. Looking up through the gaps in the trees, the night sky resembled a blue ocean.

“...And just like that, the story of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils concludes,” Ning Yi slowly finished the last part of the story by the crackling bonfire on the forest ground in front of the dilapidated temple. He then shrugged and smiled. “I timed that perfectly,” he said.

Lu Hongti, who had been poking at the fire with a stick, remained silent for a long time. “What happened to the Song Dynasty afterward?” she finally asked.

Ning Yi thought for a moment, then rolled his eyes. “How should I know that?”

“...What a boring story.”

Silence settled between them. It was already the evening of June 23rd, almost midnight, ushering in June 24th. During their nearly twenty days together, most of what needed to be said had already been covered. Lu Hongti had taught him internal martial arts he could use, which would yield results with consistent practice. Meanwhile, Ning Yi had devised a series of development plans for Lu Hongti’s small bandit stronghold in the Lüliang Mountains. This was something he excelled at, so there shouldn't be any major issues.

Naturally, these plans and lessons covered everything from organizational division of labor and combat allocation to strategic alliances and internal power struggles. However, they were certainly not based on a pure corporate model or strict military regulations. The people in the Lüliang Mountains mostly operated in a village-like, family-style manner. It would be impossible to impose mechanized rules and regulations; adjustments had to be made subtly and gradually.

A relatively healthy and stable structure naturally possesses great vitality and potential for development. Truly skilled strategists often foresee the chain reactions a small action can trigger. However, since Ning Yi couldn't go to the Lüliang Mountains himself, he could only design a few critical points for her. Once certain goals were achieved, the social structure of her subordinates could be easily altered, paving the way for the next steps. With only a hundred or so people under Lu Hongti's command, Ning Yi could predict many of the changes that would occur after simple divisions of labor. As long as Lu Hongti could establish a few basic rules, she would thereafter be able to lead the development of this small organization more healthily and smoothly. Situations like the recent clamor to kill Song Xian, which forced her to intervene personally, should no longer happen.

It was incredibly difficult to convey a management curriculum that could be flexibly applied in just a few days or weeks. The subject itself lacked strict rules, so Ning Yi could only explain a few key principles and hope that Lu Hongti's own wisdom would allow her to adapt and apply them. She wasn't foolish; she also possessed formidable martial arts skills, and people with such skills often commanded immense charisma in these regions, so it shouldn't be a major issue.

Organizational fundamentals accounted for half of the advice. The other half covered how to interact with passing merchants and other local powers in the Lüliang Mountains, how to broaden their living space, increase mutual solidarity and cohesion, and strategies for dealing with the Khitan Liao, among other things.

This part of the plan and suggestions was also quite varied, and Ning Yi had considered it for a long time. For example, he suggested providing protection to merchants passing through their territory to earn fixed resources. Once their influence grew a bit, they could contact and negotiate these matters with other mountain leaders in the vicinity. Naturally, how resources were collected, distributed, supervised, and ensured to be fair was most important. Ning Yi also provided some guiding principles and oversight methods, copied into a small booklet with a brush pen for Lu Hongti to take back. If Lu Hongti could implement these effectively, her influence would naturally increase.

Another example was forming three to four elite five-person teams, trained with the highly specialized methods of special forces. Some hunters or bandits in the mountains might excel individually, but purposeful, targeted training for division of labor and coordination was unlikely to exist in the mountains. Lu Hongti was to train these people as rigorously as possible, provide them good treatment, and incidentally designate a privileged class within the small group. Of course, this privilege had to be bound by positive principles; otherwise, it would likely only lead to negative effects. However, if guided correctly, this privilege could also motivate others.

For instance, he suggested encouraging elderly storytellers to focus more on tales of the Khitan Liao's brutality and stories of heroes, emphasizing resistance against foreign invaders and loyalty to the nation, while minimizing tales of mountain spirits, wild monsters, and foxy enchantresses. They could even find someone with such talent; Lu Hongti simply needed to drop a few hints, and that person would naturally start telling these kinds of stories in the evenings. Simple public opinion control and incitement might seem straightforward at first glance, but with deliberate management, it could significantly increase cohesion and centripetal force over the long term.

Most of his ideas and projections for future development were copied into a small notebook. Ning Yi initially hadn't wanted to do this, adhering to the principle of secrecy, as Lu Hongti wasn't very literate. However, according to her, there was a knowledgeable elder in the stronghold whom she often consulted, and she would need to show him the notebook before acting on its contents. But Ning Yi realized this was likely only part of the reason. The other part was that she seemed to regard it as a personalized military treatise for the Lüliang Mountains, something to take back with her. He had seen her treating the small booklet with extreme care on several occasions.

Well, well, given her capabilities, she shouldn't lose something that implicated him. And indeed, in just over ten days, it was difficult to fully grasp everything he had said. If she could take a 'textbook' back and have a truly trustworthy person assist her, these plans were less likely to fail. So, he made two agreements with her.

“First, this booklet has nothing to do with me; you were not hosted by the Blood Hand Butcher. Second, you must only show this to someone truly selfless and trustworthy, someone who can guide you. If the Elder Liang you mentioned is indeed seventy or eighty years old, with no descendants, power, or personal desires, then it should be fine. Of course, if you choose the wrong person, I want to say it won't have much to do with me, but soon your position might be gone, and you might be undermined. At that point, I just hope… you can save your own life. Don’t force things; save your life and run quickly...”

“You scholar, you truly know a lot...” After the story, Lu Hongti seemed to reflect and feel a touch of sadness for a while. “To be honest, I didn't think this at first, but now I suddenly wonder... perhaps I should just abduct you back to the Lüliang Mountains.”

Ning Yi laughed. “I only know a few unconventional tricks; you think too highly of me. Honestly, I'm not even sure if any of these things will be truly useful.”

“They're not unconventional tricks; I can tell the difference,” Lu Hongti said, shaking her head after a moment. “Will you become an official in the future?”

“As a live-in son-in-law, it’s not easy to become an official. Besides, the practical studies I pursue are probably what others call unorthodox methods.”

“Oh, right, tell me about A Chinese Ghost Story from the other day. That day... I didn't get to hear the ending.”

“No,” Ning Yi firmly refused by the bonfire. Lu Hongti was stunned for a moment. “Why not?”

“Don't die. If we meet again next time, I'll tell you then.”

Lu Hongti thought for a while, first smiling, then turning her head with a cold huff. “I’m going to sleep,” she said, flopping down onto the grass behind her.

Ning Yi used some smoking leaves to ward off mosquitoes, then lay down as well, the star-filled river turning above his gaze. Lu Hongti watched the sky with open eyes for a while. “Hey, what are you thinking about?”

“Mosquito coils,” Ning Yi replied. “I’ve been smoked to death these past few nights. The mosquito coils at the Su family's residence didn’t smell good either. Current ones contain a small amount of arsenic, which is probably harmful to the body. I’m thinking if there’s a better mosquito coil formula. That should be relatively simple, but it’s a pity I never delved into it before. It’s painful; no good mosquito coils, and MSG is also hard to get...”

Ning Yi, as usual, babbled on and on about his practical studies. Some things she understood, others she didn't. Lu Hongti lay there, smiling, listening and listening, until, after an unknown amount of time, she finally drifted off into a deep sleep.

In any case, tomorrow she would be leaving.

The next morning, they woke up, exchanged greetings, washed their faces, and cooked porridge as usual. While fetching water, Lu Hongti felt her expression was a bit stiff, so she adjusted it slightly by the water's edge. She then returned and practiced a simple set of martial arts moves with Ning Yi. After breakfast, they sat on the steps in front of the dilapidated temple for a while, saying nothing.

The morning slowly passed. At a certain point, Lu Hongti finally stood up, retrieved her travel pack from inside the temple, slung it over her shoulder, and walked out the temple door.

“I'm returning to the Lüliang Mountains,” she said with a smile. “There's something I still need to tell you.”

“Oh?”

As Ning Yi looked on, puzzled, Lu Hongti's smile took on a mischievous, triumphant air. “Even though you like martial arts very much, you won’t become a first-rate master. At best, you’ll only be a second-rate one.”

She had said this several times before. Ning Yi scoffed. “Didn’t I already say that? I'm perfectly content being a second-rate master. I have no ambition to be first-rate; I don't even aspire to it.”

“I'm only telling you this because you wouldn't tell me A Chinese Ghost Story last night,” Lu Hongti said, smiling as she walked forward. She stopped in front of a large tree, whose trunk was about as thick as a water bucket. Sunlight streamed from that direction. Lu Hongti turned back. “Do you know what a first-rate master can do?”

No sooner had she spoken than Ning Yi saw her gaze sharpen. Her clothes flared, and her body, like a taut slingshot, burst forward.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three massive impacts resounded in succession. Then, Ning Yi watched as she turned back, her skirt swirling in a circle. For that instant, she seemed to float, barely touching the ground, as if performing a graceful dance. Behind her, with a 'crackling' sound, the entire trunk of the large tree snapped. Its crown began to tilt and fall, branches and leaves thrashing wildly. A gust of wind pressure spread in all directions, as the morning sunlight from beyond bathed her in its glow.

“That’s not right...”

Ning Yi stared at the spectacular sight, stunned for a long moment, before muttering and shaking his head. Lu Hongti seemed to laugh joyfully amidst the dancing light. “I’m leaving now.”

“Wait.”

“Hm?”

Lu Hongti paused, then Ning Yi let out a breath. “I consider you a friend.”

Lu Hongti looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

“So... I won't go with you to the Lüliang Mountains, but if you ever get into trouble, you can come find me... So, if anything happens, remember, absolutely do not die.”

After a long silence, she finally nodded. “I'll wait for the day I can eat that roasted chicken in the Lüliang Mountains. You must also remember to have your friend open his shop there. Take care.”

“Take care.”

He watched her turn and descend the mountain, gradually vanishing into the light until she was completely out of sight. Only then did he stretch, look back at the dilapidated temple behind him, and feel the mountain breeze. After a long while, he pulled a small booklet from his pocket and casually flipped through it. Inside were the internal martial arts techniques Lu Hongti had left for him.

“I ended up getting it after all...”

There wasn’t necessarily much triumph in his voice as he said this. He patted the small booklet, sighed, then tucked it back into his pocket and headed down the mountain.

His left hand was still bandaged, but after twenty days of rest and internal martial arts training, his spirits were high. Soon, he turned off the small path onto the main road. As Jiangning came into view, he noticed something: the roads were filled with many more raggedly dressed outsiders, carrying their families. Reflecting, he realized that perhaps the wave of refugees Old Man Qin and Old Man Kang had spoken of was indeed heading this way.

At that moment, the situation wasn't yet severe, and the feeling lessened slightly once he entered the city. He walked toward the Su residence, glancing at his bandaged left hand and wondering how best to explain it to Chan'er and the others. As he passed a street corner, a carriage drove by. Suddenly, Su Tan'er's head popped out from the front, looking back at him and shouting, “Stop, stop, stop...”

The carriage continued for about ten meters before stopping. Su Tan'er clearly saw his bandaged left hand, bit her lower lip, then her head disappeared into the carriage for a moment, seemingly saying, “Li Heng is back.” She jumped down from the carriage, and on the other side, Chan'er, Juan'er, and Xing'er also disembarked.

Su Tan'er took a few short running steps, then slowed, seemingly waiting for Chan'er and Juan'er to run past her. She looked at Ning Yi’s left hand, a slight frown on her brow. Soon, the three maids gathered around Ning Yi, anxiously discussing his bandaged hand. Ning Yi watched Su Tan'er approach, a helpless smile on his face. Su Tan'er let out a complicated sigh. “You’re back?”

“I’m fine now,” Ning Yi said, his voice clear on the sunny Jiangning street that morning.