Chapter 997: You and I Are the Same Kind of Person

Chapter 987: You and I Are the Same Kind of Person

White Wave Villa had been officially opened just a few days prior, and few outsiders knew about it. He Lingchuan naturally arranged the finest lodging for Wang Xingyi, reserving several hot spring pools exclusively for him. People of status generally disliked exposing themselves fully to others, as it might diminish their dignity. Wang Xingyi eagerly went off to bathe, temporarily leaving the two. In He Lingchuan's view, this was Wang Xingyi leaving time for him and Fang Canran to converse. He pointed to a low hill within the villa grounds: "There's an observation deck up there."

It could hardly be called a mountain; at best, it was a small hill with a pavilion built on top, offering a perfect panoramic view of the bay. He Lingchuan knew Fang Canran had something to say, so he walked up beside him. There was also a wind barrier near the observation deck. The evening breeze brushed their faces, and the forest lanterns swayed gently, providing a rare quiet haven amidst the storm.

As they walked, He Lingchuan complained, "Brother Songyuan, you brought such an important figure without even telling me beforehand."

"You wrong me! National Master Wang explicitly told me not to inform you in advance. How could I go against his wishes?"

He Lingchuan shook his head: "My true setup here has been revealed."

Wang Xingyi wanted to see He Lingchuan's territory as it truly was, unembellished and uncorrected. Fang Canran laughed, "Seeing it in person, this archipelago is quite vast." The Eastern Archipelago, where Platinum Island is located, comprises over three hundred islands. Fang Canran had thought "forty-two" was a small number, something He Lingchuan was just playing with. However, as their ship sailed through the Yangshan Archipelago, he discovered that these islands were all quite sizable, and... "There aren't just forty-two, are there?"

He Lingchuan rubbed his nose: "There are also hundreds of isolated reefs and barrier reefs." According to the ancient Bai Lie ancestors' method of counting, anything too small wasn't considered an "island," which is why only forty-two were recorded.

"So your hydrological conditions here are very complex?"

"Indeed," He Lingchuan said, looking around. The bushes rustled in the evening breeze, as if someone might jump out at any moment. Yet, he and Fang Canran were surrounded by over a hundred Mu Kingdom guards, making them safer than the docks. "The outer seas of the Yangshan Archipelago are prone to storms and fierce sea monsters, so ships usually follow fixed coastal routes. Between the islands, there are many submerged reefs and whirlpools. More than half of the novice ships that disappear after sailing deep into the archipelago do so not because of malevolent spirits or dark energy, but due to ordinary reef collisions. Furthermore, the currents here change direction with the seasons, making them difficult for non-local sailors to manage."

"That's a natural current barrier! It's excellent that you've secured such a maritime haven as a base." This fellow certainly knew how to pick a location. "You said you bought the Bai Lie Lu family's territory because you feared they might regret it later and try to reclaim it. Is that true?"

Fang Canran had long suspected something was amiss. Would someone audacious enough to cause a ruckus in Lingxu City and mortally offend heavenly deities be afraid of repeated attacks from a minor Bai Lie lord? Knowing full well that the Yangshan Archipelago was just a cover, He Lingchuan calmly said, "Perhaps I truly intend to retire from the martial world and avoid trouble."

Fang Canran was slightly startled, then burst into loud laughter. Was it that funny? He Lingchuan rubbed his nose. Fang Canran's laughter was too loud; anyone, wanted or unwanted, would likely come looking for the source. Fang Canran laughed for quite a while before slowly composing himself, pressing his sore cheeks as he said, "You really know how to joke!"

"Brother He, you and I are the same kind of person. Knowing myself, I know you have great ambitions. Retirement? Heh heh."

He Lingchuan was pleased: "Brother Fang is perceptive, yet you still introduced me."

"Well, I owe you a favor." Just look at the bustling construction on Suoding Island – would someone planning to retire rush progress daily? Would they purchase thousands of sets of weapons? Fang Canran almost chuckled again.

He Lingchuan then asked, "What's the relationship between National Master Wang and Grand Guardian Xia?"

Fang Canran lowered his voice to a whisper: "My martial uncle is the Arbiter of Ling Mountain, responsible for overseeing the implementation of Ling Mountain's directives." Wang Xingyi was not only a member of Ling Mountain but also wielded immense power! He Lingchuan was moved, only then realizing what a significant figure Fang Canran had brought to him.

Fang Canran then asked, "How much do you know about the Mu Kingdom's imperial court?"

"The Great Mu Kingdom was established over 150 years ago, and it's the domain of the old Xin family. Other information is just hearsay from my travels and the market, so it can't be relied upon." He Lingchuan had never heard of the Mu Kingdom in the Panlong World. He later learned that it hadn't even existed back then; it was merely an insignificant minor power in eastern Beijia, not even worth a second glance from Beijia.

"The Mu Kingdom was established with the help of Ling Mountain. Without Ling Mountain's protection, it couldn't have grown strong alongside Beijia," Fang Canran began, immediately establishing the relationship between the two. "And after the Mu Kingdom revealed its identity, various Daoist sects flocked here. To this day, the Mu Kingdom and Ling Mountain are intertwined and inseparable. Therefore, the most significant force in the Mu Kingdom's imperial court is Ling Mountain." He Lingchuan nodded; this was logical.

"Opposite them are the imperial relatives, aristocratic families, Daoist disciples, and civil and military officials who rose from common ranks, all of whom have little connection with Ling Mountain. They call themselves 'Pengmen' (Humble Gate), but ironically, outsiders secretly refer to them as the 'Imperial Faction'." "Pengmen" literally means "grass gate," referring to common households. The opposing faction's name was highly significant, and He Lingchuan immediately understood: "Is the Mu Emperor's lineage not under Ling Mountain?" (The Mu Kingdom's imperial surname is Xin.)

"They once were. But..." Fang Canran paused. "Let's put it this way: Look at Beijia's Demon Emperor; he's not one to merely kowtow to the Celestial Palace either." A sovereign holds the power of life and death over a nation; they should be "supreme." How could they possibly be completely subservient to another power? "Ling Mountain holds great power in the Mu royal court, so the Pengmen naturally sided with the Mu Emperor." That's why they were called the 'Imperial Faction.' "Of course, the Mu Kingdom's imperial court has many complex forces; these are just the two main ones. As for the others, telling you too much would make your head spin. Furthermore, the Pengmen and Ling Mountain don't completely shun each other; they often have interactions." "For instance, aristocratic families often have their children enter Daoist sects under Ling Mountain for cultivation. So, are they considered part of Ling Mountain or the Imperial Faction? Who can say for sure?"

He Lingchuan remarked with feeling, "Birds of a feather flock together." Where there is power, there are factions, opposition, and struggles; it's unavoidable. "For many years, the court's factions have largely maintained a balance, only intensifying during conflicts with Beijia." External issues can also exacerbate internal conflicts.

"So, regarding your question about Martial Uncle Wang and Grand Guardian Xia's relationship—" Fang Canran chuckled, "Their relationships are quite good, whether between the Taihang Sect and the Hongmen, or between themselves." Both are high-ranking officials in the current court, and both are disciples of Ling Mountain. As officials from Ling Mountain serving in the court, they naturally form a cohesive group.

"So, what kind of temperament does National Master Wang have?" He Lingchuan wasn't asking about Wang Xingyi's character, but his disposition. For someone of that status, one doesn't comment on good or bad.

"To be the Arbiter of Ling Mountain, Martial Uncle Wang isn't one to act on personal favors or form cliques. This is also why the Mu Kingdom invited him to serve as National Master." He Lingchuan murmured, "If I may ask one more presumptuous question between us brothers: Does Senior Wang prioritize the interests of Ling Mountain or the Mu Kingdom?" Often, one's stance determines one's attitude.

"Why do you ask?" Fang Canran glanced at him with a strange look. "Ling Mountain and the Mu Kingdom are tightly connected." Otherwise, after Ling Mountain raided Beijia's lair once, why would Beijia fiercely attack the Mu Kingdom? He Lingchuan chuckled, "For instance, the Vassal Demon Nation and Lingxu, or Lingxu and the Celestial Palace, also maintain harmony while being distinct." Outsiders viewed Beijia as a single entity, but only someone like him, who had delved into Beijia's deep-seated conflicts, truly understood how intricate its internal relationships were. Similarly, if one were to examine Ling Mountain and the Mu Kingdom with a magnifying glass, would there be different kinds of surprises?

Fang Canran nodded: "Fair point. Speaking of which, Martial Uncle Wang is a distant cousin of the current Mu Emperor, so by origin, he should be considered part of the Imperial Faction. However, he was sent to the Taihang Sect at five years old, cultivated diligently for thirty years before returning to the Mu Kingdom, and was appointed Ling Mountain's Arbiter five years later."

He Lingchuan hadn't expected this: "Uh, National Master Wang's background is that complicated?"

"This is due both to Martial Uncle Wang's astonishing talent and Ling Mountain's deliberate planning," Fang Canran explained. "Ling Mountain needs such figures to maintain close ties with all parties."

He Lingchuan nodded: "There aren't many figures like him, are there?" Wang Xingyi himself acted as both a bond and a lubricant between the two major factions in the Mu Kingdom. Moreover, having come from Ling Mountain, he served as a communication channel between Ling Mountain and the Mu Kingdom. Such individuals, existing as the "intersection point" of multiple powers, must be few, as they can speak and even make decisions on behalf of any side, giving them astounding influence.

"Of course not," Fang Canran continued. "So you ask me which side's interests Martial Uncle Wang would prioritize. Well, I can only say that being an Arbiter is no easy task." He Lingchuan cupped his hands to him: "Many thanks, Songyuan, for bringing such an esteemed figure here for me."

He then changed the topic: "I heard that relations between the Qing Kingdom and the Mu Kingdom are not very harmonious?"

"After the Qing Kingdom got a new ruler, it became a bit fickle," Fang Canran scoffed. "The two nations don't share a direct border, and Qing Kingdom has been peaceful these past few years, making it somewhat frivolous. Not long ago, it even agreed to let Beijia pass through Blade's Edge Port."

He Lingchuan was slightly surprised, stopping in his tracks: "When did that happen?"

"Last spring, Beijia sent envoys to congratulate the King of Ya on his birthday. The delegation didn't travel by land but arrived by ship, during which they used your shipping lane and stopped at Blade's Edge Port for supplies," Fang Canran shook his head. "After that incident, the Mu Kingdom disciplined Qing Kingdom, and now it's behaving a bit better."

"Disciplined them? Hmm." He Lingchuan changed the subject. "By the way, does National Master Wang know about my past?" His "past" referred to his disruption in the Celestial Palace.

"Of course, otherwise why would he come to the Yangshan Archipelago? When I told him about your 'good deeds,' Martial Uncle Wang was greatly surprised and wanted to see you, this young prodigy, for himself," Fang Canran sighed. "After all, he's from the Mu Kingdom, and I reckon he wants to recruit you for an official position."

"Me?" He Lingchuan pointed at his own nose. "Take an official position in the Mu Kingdom?"

"I asked you in Lingxu City what your aspirations were, didn't I?" Fang Canran questioned him. "Now that you're in the East, do you still not want to be an official?"

He Lingchuan glanced at him and retorted, "Why don't you take office in the Mu Kingdom?"