Chapter 738: Thousands of Rivers and Mountains Are Always Affection

Qiao Yi fumbled for the edge of the bed and sat down.

Nian Shangyou quickly stepped forward and said, "My Lord, you're awake?"

Qiao Yi's gaze was calm, and his expression was as usual. With a wave of his hand, he said, "Everyone except Shangyou, withdraw."

The others promptly withdrew, leaving only Qiao Yi and Nian Shangyou in the room.

Qiao Yi instructed, "Fetch some tea."

Nian Shangyou quickly brought a teacup, tested its temperature, and handed it to Qiao Yi.

Qiao Yi fumbled for a while, then took the teacup and took a sip.

Nian Shangyou extended his palm and tested it in front of Qiao Yi's eyes for a moment, confirming that Qiao Yi had no reaction. He was blind.

Qiao Yi swirled the tea in his cup and asked Nian Shangyou, "Have you figured it out?"

Nian Shangyou feigned surprise, "My Lord, what do you mean by 'figured it out'? Your humble subordinate doesn't understand."

Qiao Yi sighed, "This matter is known only to you and me; it must not be spread."

Nian Shangyou continued his act of surprise, "What matter is it exactly? Your subordinate truly doesn't know. Please enlighten me, My Lord."

"Stop pretending!" Qiao Yi splashed the tea away. It didn't hit Nian Shangyou, but Nian Shangyou still symbolically wiped himself.

Qiao Yi asked, "Do you know the reason for this?" He still didn't know why he had gone blind.

Nian Shangyou cautiously speculated, "It should be due to Li Qi's curse."

Qiao Yi shook his head, "I took many precautions during our previous meeting; there's no way I would have fallen victim to his curse."

Nian Shangyou reminded him, "My Lord, you signed covenants with Li Qi before, and more than one. Perhaps the covenants made a judgment."

Qiao Yi remembered signing covenants with Li Banfeng. According to the terms of the two covenants, Qiao Yi could not harm Li Banfeng.

"Could it really be the covenants?" Qiao Yi found it hard to believe.

"My Lord, Li Qi's covenants are unusual; you said so yourself." Qiao Yi had indeed mentioned this before. When Ye Shengsheng attacked Li Qi with joy fire, Qiao Yi's side ended up catching fire instead.

"I've never seen covenants like that. They must have been refined by Hong Lian," Qiao Yi put down the teacup and carefully recalled the contents of the covenant. "I merely planted a hook, which shouldn't count as harming Li Qi. Even if it were considered harm, the covenant's judgment wouldn't be so severe. From what I observed then, if Li Qi was attacked, I would suffer the same pain. I put a hook on him; if that hook turned on me, it should be enough punishment. Why would it cost me my eyesight?"

Nian Shangyou genuinely had some knowledge in this area: "Your humble subordinate once heard that covenant judgments can sometimes be influenced by the intentions of both parties. Li Qi might have felt that this hook was a severe blow to him, and in extreme anger, he might have prompted the covenant to make a harsh judgment."

Qiao Yi remained silent.

Nian Shangyou realized he might have said too much.

After a long silence, Qiao Yi said to Nian Shangyou, "Shangyou, have you ever heard that a covenant can be clarified?"

Nian Shangyou realized the situation was bad and shook his head repeatedly. After shaking for a while, he realized Qiao Yi couldn't see and quickly replied, "What does 'clarify' mean? Please explain, My Lord."

Qiao Yi said, "If one party unintentionally violates the covenant, as long as the other party clarifies it, the judgment can be revoked."

Nian Shangyou quickly said, "My Lord, you shouldn't believe such common rumors."

Qiao Yi angrily retorted, "This is my personal experience! How can it be a common rumor?"

Nian Shangyou lowered his head, "Your humble subordinate is foolish. Please do not blame me, My Lord."

Qiao Yi sighed deeply, "Given our relationship, how could I bear to blame you? Go and seek clarification from Li Qi; consider it an atonement for your past misdeeds."

Nian Shangyou knew this would be the outcome, but he truly didn't want to go to Li Qi. "My Lord, your humble subordinate truly doesn't know how to perform this clarification. Perhaps I should find a medical official to treat you instead."

Qiao Yi frowned with displeasure, "Didn't I just instruct you that this matter must not be spread? Did my words go in one ear and out the other?" Previously, Qiao Yi had claimed to be severely injured, causing widespread panic in the Shang Kingdom. Now that he had just stabilized the people's morale, if news of his blindness spread, not only would the Shang Kingdom be in chaos, but the peace agreement previously made with the Tufang Kingdom might also be overturned.

Nian Shangyou still tried to refuse, "You're asking me to get a clarification from Li Qi, but what if he doesn't agree?"

Qiao Yi furrowed his brows, "You've followed me for so many years, yet you can't even conduct a negotiation? If he names a price, accept it first. Whether it works or not, come back and discuss it with me."

Nian Shangyou took a fast boat and hurried all the way to Endless City.

Luo Lijun was utterly respectful to Nian Shangyou and quickly sent someone to announce him. Nian Shangyou was still wondering what to say to Li Qi, but it turned out he had worried needlessly; Li Qi didn't see him. Instead, Luo Shaojun came to meet him.

Luo Shaojun's attitude towards Nian Shangyou was markedly different: "Seventh Brother doesn't want to see you. Come back another day."

Nian Shangyou said, "I truly have an important matter to discuss with the Prince. Please trouble yourself to inform him again."

No matter how Luo Shaojun tried to dismiss him, Nian Shangyou waited persistently at the door.

Li Qi spoke from inside the room: "Go back and tell your master that a faithless person has no right to speak with me. He used this hook to harm me, and I will definitely have my revenge!"

Nian Shangyou said, "Your Highness, please let me explain—"

"No need to say more! Shaojun, help me back to my room to rest!"

Li Qi called out, and Luo Shaojun quickly entered the room.

*Clang!*

Nian Shangyou heard something fall in the room. It didn't sound like it was thrown in anger, but rather accidentally knocked over.

*Clang!*

Another sound.

Nian Shangyou was puzzled and wanted to peek into the room, but Luo Shaojun closed the door and had Nian Shangyou sent away.

After Nian Shangyou left Endless City, Luo Shaojun asked, "Seventh Brother, what was wrong just now? Why did you knock over the teacup and teapot?"

Li Banfeng sighed, "He infuriated me. This scoundrel broke the alliance and still dares to come seeking me."

"Seventh Brother, breaking an alliance can be clarified. Nian Shangyou probably came to you for that reason." Luo Shaojun explained the concept of clarification to Li Banfeng.

"Is that so?" Li Banfeng heard about clarification for the first time. "Then I suppose he'll have to come again."

Nian Shangyou returned to Chaoge and reported to Qiao Yi, "My Lord, Li Qi refused to see me."

"Why wouldn't he see you? He didn't even want to discuss a price? That's not like Li Qi's character."

"He said he hates us for breaking the alliance and that he wants revenge."

Qiao Yi was furious, "I just put a hook on him, and it cost me my eyesight! Isn't that enough revenge for him?"

In his anger, Qiao Yi knocked over the vase on the table.

Nian Shangyou paused for a moment, then righted the vase. "My Lord, Li Qi was in the room at the time. I couldn't see him, but I heard him seem to knock over many things as well."

Qiao Yi exclaimed, "Knocked over?"

Nian Shangyou was very certain, "The sound was definitely of something being knocked, not thrown."

Qiao Yi stood up and, supported by Nian Shangyou, paced back and forth in the room.

"He stayed in the room. Was it because he didn't want to see you, or because he couldn't?"

Nian Shangyou was also pondering this. "Your humble subordinate believes that if Li Qi truly had the upper hand, he would surely demand exorbitant prices. Since he doesn't even dare to ask for a price now, he probably couldn't see me."

Qiao Yi nodded, agreeing that Nian Shangyou's reasoning made sense. "He lost his sight, and I lost mine. That fits the nature of the covenant. He was harmed by someone. Who harmed him, exactly? Why did the covenant attribute this to me?"

Nian Shangyou asked, "My Lord, could it be because Li Qi read that letter? Who wrote that letter to him? And what did it say?"

Qiao Yi couldn't yet determine the identity of the letter writer. As he pondered, someone came to deliver a secret report.

Nian Shangyou quickly helped Qiao Yi to the table. Qiao Yi leaned over the desk, holding a brush as if reviewing documents.

The messenger presented the secret report. Qiao Yi didn't take it, so Nian Shangyou accepted it for him.

Once the messenger left, Nian Shangyou presented the secret report to Qiao Yi.

Qiao Yi felt the envelope, then snatched up the inkstone, intending to smash it on Nian Shangyou's head.

Fortunately, he couldn't see, otherwise, he would have actually hit him.

Nian Shangyou opened the secret report and read it aloud.

The secret report was from Shu Wanjuan. Shu Wanjuan informed Qiao Yi that he had arrived at Daoguiling, and Cui Tike's defenses were so stringent that he dared not act rashly for now.

Qiao Yi sneered, "The Ancestor of Scholars, investigating Daoguiling, is actually timid? Write back to him and tell him that within three days, he must ascertain Cui Tike's movements."

Nian Shangyou quickly drafted the reply, "My Lord, should I go to Li Qi again?"

Qiao Yi shook his head, "We definitely need to find him, but there's no rush for now. Later, you'll come with me to Ninefold City; I need to enter the Smelting Furnace."

Nian Shangyou exclaimed in surprise, "You're really going into the Smelting Furnace!"

Qiao Yi frowned, "Keep your voice down! I just need to replace my eyes. Go make some preparations; don't let anyone else know."

Nian Shangyou advised, "My Lord, the Smelting Furnace is extremely dangerous. You must be careful."

Qiao Yi nodded, "It's not proper for me to go alone. You should come with me."

Nian Shangyou wanted to slap himself, but he restrained himself.

In truth, he knew deep down that with or without that instruction, he would have to accompany Qiao Yi.

Nian Shangyou had refined himself in the Smelting Furnace more than once. He knew the way well and could still orient himself inside the furnace.

Qiao Yi was replacing his eyes, which only required him to walk along the edge of the lotus core, without entering its pores. However, this process was also very dangerous. The whirlwinds around the lotus core were fierce, and every step had to be placed precisely. Otherwise, if he entered any of the lotus core's orifices, it would be hard to say what he'd look like upon returning.

Qiao Yi gripped Nian Shangyou's arm tightly, sweat streaming down his face.

It wasn't just nervousness; there was also pain. The fierce winds of the lotus core felt as if they were tearing his flesh.

Nian Shangyou reminded him, "My Lord, just follow me. Keep only one thought in your mind: new eyes. Don't think about anything else."

After walking on the lotus core for half an hour, Qiao Yi's eyelids flipped, and two eyeballs fell out of their sockets.

In extreme pain, Qiao Yi fell into a coma.

Nian Shangyou carried Qiao Yi away from the lotus core and back to the mansion. After lying down for several hours, Qiao Yi opened his eyes and saw Nian Shangyou.

He could see.

Two new eyeballs had grown in his eyes. Although they were slightly smaller than his eye sockets, his vision had mostly recovered.

Qiao Yi's spirits soared. He sat up from the bed and said to Nian Shangyou, "Bring me the important documents; I want to review them one by one. Summon the new Minister of Works to see me; I need to check the progress of the altar's repair."

"My Lord, don't be too hasty."

"Summon all the envoys who visited the Tufang Kingdom. I want to question them one by one, and also prepare some questions for an on-the-spot examination."

"My Lord, please rest a little."

"There's no time to rest. Bring the documents for the newly appointed generals as well; some of them still need further consideration."

"My Lord," Nian Shangyou interrupted Qiao Yi again, "You still—"

Qiao Yi roared, "Do I still need your guidance on how to do my work?"

*Splatter!*

A drop of fresh blood landed on Qiao Yi's lapel.

Qiao Yi's vision became blurry.

Nian Shangyou lowered his head and said, "My Lord, your eyes are bleeding."

Qiao Yi's vision went black, and his mood darkened along with it.

In the portable dwelling, Li Banfeng, facing Hong Lian, asked with a smile, "A-Lian, have you seen the Smelting Furnace in Neizhou?"

"No, I haven't. That place is in Ninefold City of Chaoge; it's quite difficult to see it."

"But I heard that the Smelting Furnace in Chaoge looks exactly like you."

"Such a coincidence? I think those are just rumors, not to be believed."

"What if I saw it with my own eyes?" Li Banfeng had indeed seen it with his own eyes. Banfeng Yin was Li Banfeng, and he had personally witnessed the Smelting Furnace blooming from within Xi Zhaofu's shadow.

Hong Lian thought for a moment and said, "I think someone in Neizhou saw me and found me extraordinary, so they replicated me to create a Smelting Furnace. But they didn't capture the essence. I don't consume raw materials, but I heard the Smelting Furnace in Neizhou devours everything."

Li Banfeng said, "I'll tentatively believe that. You were created by the Celestial Maiden. Is the Smelting Furnace also related to the Celestial Maiden?"

Hong Lian smiled, "My relationship with the Celestial Maiden is indeed good, but I don't know where these rumors came from, insisting that I was created by her. Such rumors are absurd, yet people actually believe them."

Li Banfeng glanced at Zhao Xiaowan.

The Celestial Maiden was Hong Lian's master, and Hong Lian was created by the Celestial Maiden. This was almost common knowledge in Prol. How could there be a deviation in this matter?

Zhao Xiaowan said, "If you say it wasn't the Celestial Maiden, then who created you?"

Hong Lian's tone held a hint of disdain: "Why do you all think I was 'created'? When heaven and earth first opened, there was a great rain for three years. After the rain, a pond appeared on the earth, and a lotus flower grew in that pond. That lotus flower was me."

Li Banfeng was dismissive: "What do you mean, 'when heaven and earth first opened'? I still know how planets form."

Hong Lian said, "I'm not talking about planets. I'm talking about the beginning of Prol."

Zhao Xiaowan felt this wasn't true: "Were there lotus seeds when heaven and earth first opened? Without lotus seeds, where would a lotus flower come from?"

Hong Lian unfurled her lotus leaves: "That question hits the mark. Without a lotus flower, where would lotus seeds come from? No one can say whether the lotus seed or the lotus flower came first, which is why I am called the Mystical Lotus."

Li Banfeng nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. He thought Hong Lian's explanation made sense, but then he raised a question: "A-Lian, does your explanation apply to eggs? Why isn't there a 'mystical egg'?"

Hong Lian got angry: "I'm telling you the truth, but you don't believe me. Say what you will, I haven't seen the Smelting Furnace in Neizhou anyway."

A scene appeared on the wall of the main chamber: Nian Shangyou pacing back and forth in the courtyard. He had come to Endless City to find Li Qi.

Zhao Xiaowan said, "Husband, why didn't you negotiate a price with him?"

Li Banfeng shook his head, "If it were anyone else, I would have discussed business with him, but this person needs to be left hanging for a couple more days." Hong Ying asked, "Is there anything special about this person?"

"There's nothing special about him, but his master is special. Qiao Yi just went blind; he hasn't suffered enough yet. I need to let him suffer for a few more days."

Hong Ying immediately understood: "Seventh Master, that's a good move. When I first went blind, I didn't care much, treating it as resting with my eyes closed. But after a few days, I couldn't bear it anymore. With everything perpetually dark, I truly thought I would go mad. At the time, I just wanted someone to make me see again, and I would do anything. But Seventh Master, don't drag it on for too long. If too much time passes and I get used to it, it won't be so painful anymore, and the price will be harder to negotiate."

Zhao Xiaowan reminded Li Banfeng, "Husband, the Smelting Furnace in Neizhou has many methods. It might be able to replace Qiao Yi's eyes. If Qiao Yi takes the risk, you might suffer a significant loss."

Li Banfeng had already considered this step: "Replacing eyes probably isn't too difficult, but replacing eyes won't remove the root cause of the illness. In the end, he'll still be blind. If he can replace his entire body, then I'll consider him a man of true courage."

Nian Shangyou didn't see Li Qi. Upon returning to Chaoge, he offered Qiao Yi an idea: "My Lord, why not visit the Smelting Furnace again?"

Qiao Yi asked, "What's the use of going to the Smelting Furnace? If I replace my eyes again, can it be guaranteed that the problem won't recur?"

"If changing eyes doesn't work, then simply change your whole body!"

Qiao Yi threw his writing brush at Nian Shangyou. Because he couldn't see, the brush missed him but splattered ink all over Nian Shangyou's face and onto a pile of documents.

No matter how angry he was, Qiao Yi still prioritized state affairs. Hearing the sound, Qiao Yi quickly asked, "Which document did I spoil?"

Nian Shangyou checked it over. "There's only one important document: the secret report sent by Shu Wanjuan."

Qiao Yi hadn't read this secret report yet. Nian Shangyou read it aloud. The main content was that Shu Wanjuan had contracted a 'disease root' and was preparing to leave Daoguiling.

Qiao Yi was extremely displeased with Shu Wanjuan. As one of Prol's strongest warriors, to be so discomfited by a junior illness cultivator was truly unacceptable. "Doesn't he possess the Sky-Harmony technique? He can't even withstand a disease root."

Nian Shangyou didn't know that Shu Wanjuan was severely injured, but he did find Shu Wanjuan's behavior abnormal. Since Qiao Yi had asked, he had to at least offer an explanation: "This 'disease root' is invisible and intangible. Once contracted, it can recur if not completely eradicated. It's quite reasonable that Marquis Shu was ensnared by a scheme at Daoguiling."

"Disease root?" Qiao Yi seemed to grasp something. "Could my blindness be caused by a disease root?"

Nian Shangyou thought it impossible. "Cui Tike is far away in Daoguiling, and Greenwater Touch hasn't appeared here. You haven't even been to Prol, so how could you contract a disease root?"

Qiao Yi murmured, "That letter... Li Qi read it, injured his eyes, and through the covenant, it implicated me. The letter had Shan Chengjun's name on it. Shu Wanjuan is unwilling to act at Daoguiling. The disease root comes from Cui Tike? Separated by thousands of miles, yet there's collusion here!"

There were many clues, but they didn't connect yet.

Qiao Yi ordered Nian Shangyou to convey his command to Shu Wanjuan: "Within three days, you must capture Cui Tike alive!"

Shu Wanjuan hid in a civilian dwelling, watching words appear one by one on his palm.

Previously, it was to ascertain Cui Tike's movements within three days; now, it had become capturing Cui Tike alive.

Outside the dwelling, the roars of the Dao-Lao Ghouls could be heard. They had already surrounded the village.

By the time they found this dwelling, it would be too late to say anything.

While there's still time, retreat.

Greenwater City, General Headquarters of Defense.

Liao Zihui extended his left hand, swayed his hips to the left, and smiled charmingly, singing and dancing: "Fear not strong winds scattering love, mountains and rivers abound with affection~" His singing was good, and his dancing was also decent. The only problem was that the thickest part of his body was his waist, and that was also the part he swayed the most.

As he swayed, Liao Zihui nodded to the audience beside him.

What audience?

Liao Zihui turned to look again. Li Banfeng was holding a feather duster and dancing with him.

"Brother Li Qi, you came without a greeting; you startled me." Liao Zihui stopped dancing and tidied his clothes.

Li Banfeng wasn't done yet: "Let's not stop, keep singing! Your physique is good. When you retire, I'll find you a livelihood at Carefree Villa. The Head of Defense performing on stage would probably be more popular than Jiang Mengting."

"I'll take you seriously on that. After I retire, I'll perform at Carefree Villa every day," Liao Zihui led Li Banfeng to the sofa. "Brother, what brings you here?"

"First, tell me, what's making you so happy?"

Liao Zihui said, "The peace talks between the Tufang Kingdom and the Shang Kingdom were successful."

Settled so quickly?

"What were the Tufang Kingdom's conditions for peace?"

Qiao Yi was a shrewd negotiator. Li Banfeng knew he must have profited greatly from this deal.

Liao Zihui shook his head, "I don't know that. This matter is very deep. But no matter the conditions, the war is over. Prol has quieted down, and the Outer Provinces have quieted down too. How can I not be happy?"

"That's not necessarily true. Just because they stop fighting each other, why couldn't they turn their attention to Prol?" Li Banfeng felt Liao Zihui was celebrating too soon.

"Impossible!" Liao Zihui took out four teacups. "These two are the Shang Kingdom and the Tufang Kingdom; they are neighbors. These two are the Huan Kingdom and Prol; they are also neighbors. The Tufang Kingdom has already been defeated; they certainly won't have the will to fight again. If the Shang Kingdom were to attack, the Huan Kingdom and Prol would have to fight them desperately together, and the Tufang Kingdom would be waiting on the sidelines for revenge. Do you think the Shang Kingdom would dare to attack? I estimate there will definitely be no trouble for the next few years. In a few more years, I'll retire, and Prol is so vast, I'll find a private place to live a peaceful life."

Li Banfeng offered no comment. What Liao Zihui said was common sense, but it was hard to say if common sense would always apply.

"Brother Liao, I want you to help me find someone. Do you know the whereabouts of Mr. Kong Fang?"

Liao Zihui's smile vanished: "Seventh Brother, you've already occupied the entire underground city. That should be enough, shouldn't it? Mr. Kong Fang is a grandmaster. He's restricted by the peddler and sometimes can't exert his power. You shouldn't capture people and insist on completely annihilating them."

Even though Liao Zihui stayed in the Defense Hall every day, he actually knew quite a lot about both major and minor affairs in Prol.

Li Banfeng said, "I'm looking for Mr. Kong Fang to make peace."

"Is that so?" Liao Zihui didn't believe him. "Brother, I truly don't know where Mr. Kong Fang is. I really can't help you with this."

"Then do you know the whereabouts of Mu Yuejuan?"

Liao Zihui hesitated for a moment. If he said he didn't know again, Li Qi probably wouldn't leave.

He opened the bookcase, took out a row of books, and retrieved a scroll from a secret compartment.

"This painting was specially given to me by Mu Yuejuan. There's a 30% chance it can find Mu Yuejuan herself, a 30% chance it can find a beauty painted by Mu Yuejuan, a 30% chance you won't see anyone at all but can come out after a round, and a 10% chance you'll be trapped in the painting and unable to get out. Take it and try your luck."

Li Banfeng took the painting, returned to Carefree Villa, hung it on the wall, and summoned Banfeng Yi: "Go."

This was a meticulous landscape painting with strong perspective and a very realistic style.

Banfeng Yi stood before the scroll for a moment and asked, "Do you think I can find Mu Yuejuan?"

Li Banfeng was very optimistic: "If you find her, it's a gain. If you don't, just come back, and we'll try a few more times. If we truly can't find her, I'll go to Seven Autumn City and burn down Mr. Kong Fang's house."

Mr. Kong Fang had a cloud in the sky, clearly visible from Seven Autumn City. Li Banfeng, using his Cloud Transformation technique, had once visited it with his wife.

Banfeng Yi was still a little worried: "What if I can't come back?"

"It's only a 10% chance. How easily do you think you'll encounter that? Hurry up and go!"

Banfeng Yi entered the scroll and emerged after a moment: "Go burn down the house in Seven Autumn City!"

"Why the rush to burn the house? It's fine if you didn't find her. You can try again."

"No need to try again. I've already found Mu Yuejuan. She's at Mr. Kong Fang's house, the one on the cloud."

In Sixfold City, Chaoge, Qiao Yi rubbed the medicine bottle on the table and asked Nian Shangyou, "Is this the Peeping Cultivator powder?"

Nian Shangyou corrected him, "This isn't called Peeping Cultivator powder. It's an Outer Province guiding agent called 'The Observer'!"

This bottle of medicine was formulated by the Shang Kingdom itself, with the formula provided by the Tufang Kingdom.

The Tufang Kingdom provided twenty-six formulas for Dark Energy User guiding agents. This was one of the peace conditions Qiao Yi proposed, and the Tufang Kingdom agreed.

Qiao Yi truly didn't want to choose 'The Observer.' He wanted to become a Scholar Cultivator and had previously learned some techniques close to those of scholar cultivation.

But now, with his vision impaired, he couldn't keep avoiding people. To stabilize the court, he could only temporarily rely on the techniques of 'The Observer'.

Qiao Yi gritted his teeth, picked up the medicine, and drank it.

After resting on the bed for a moment, Qiao Yi said to Nian Shangyou, "Is there still no reply from Li Qi's side?"

Nian Shangyou said, "I heard from the Luo sisters that he returned to Prol. You know the rules of Prol, so it's not good for me to press further."

"Then let Chu Shaoqiang ask. Is there any reply from Shu Wanjuan's side?"

"I just asked. He said he's powerless."

"Tell him to return to Chaoge immediately. He needs to give me an explanation for the situation at Daoguiling! Have the pharmacy start preparing medicine, and the Bandit Suppression Camp must intensify their training."