Chapter 2590 - 2588: Master Ximen

Chapter 2590: Chapter 2588: Master Ximen

Master Ximen entered the main hall and knelt before Cai Jing.

He took out a sandalwood box, opened it, and flattered Cai Jing, "Honored Father, this time I have prepared a grand gift for you. I spent a great deal of money to purchase these Tier-Nine Life-preserving Pills from the pharmacy on Liangshan Island. They replenish vital energy and blood, regulate the meridians, and are very beneficial for people of advanced age. If you take one every month, you will surely remain vigorous and live a thousand, ten thousand years!"

Cai Jing waved his hand, signaling the servants nearby to take the gift.

He lifted his eyelids and smiled deeply at Ximen Qing, saying, "You little rascal, what suddenly brought you the interest to see this old man?"

Ximen Qing immediately knelt beside him, started massaging his legs and feet, and said, "Honored Father, with all due respect, whenever I get a treasure, the first person I think of is you! You may not know, such Tier-Nine pills were never available to outsiders before in the Cultivation World. I indeed paid a hefty price, each pill costing billions of Spirit Stones!"

"So expensive?"

Cai Jing swirled the tea bowl in his hand and said, "Though I am the Prime Minister, I am not as fortunate as those cultivators."

Ximen Qing flattered, "What are you saying, Honored Father? Those outlandish folks cannot be compared to you. As the saying goes, the best concealment is in the court. You toil every day for the people of this world; you are the true hero and true champion!"

Cai Jing laughed heartily, "You little child, your words are quite comforting to the heart. Now, speak up. What difficult matter has arisen again?"

Ximen Qing gave a dry laugh, immediately stood up, cupped his hands, and began discussing serious matters with Cai Jing, "Honored Father, you may not know, but my herbal business recently found a geomantic treasure in Yang Valley Pass. There is a mountain there called Dragon Head Mountain. The people below the mountain rely on herb gathering for a living, and the harvested herbs are of extraordinarily good quality. I found it strange and specifically sent someone to investigate. Guess what I found, Honored Father?"

"What did you find?"

Cai Jing was also somewhat intrigued.

Ximen Qing excitedly said, "We found a Spirit Vein stretching thousands of miles, and it’s extremely easy to mine. I estimate that the spiritual ore mine beneath the mountain contains at least trillions of Spirit Stones."

"So much?"

Cai Jing was also a bit shaken and asked, "Generally, famous mountains and mines in the world are occupied by Cultivation Sects. What’s the story with Dragon Head Mountain? Could it be that no one discovered it over all these years?"

Ximen Qing replied, "Of course, it was discovered, but the situation with this mountain is special. It has always been guarded by the family of Wu Zhi, the General of Yang Valley Pass. This place is the essential passage between the Qi and Lu Region, and since the Great Tang era, it has been a crucial military passage. So, there’s always been a military camp stationed there, naturally deterring the Cultivation Sects from getting involved."

Cai Jing glanced at him sideways and said, "So, you want to meddle in this place?"

Ximen Qing wrung his hands, carefully proposing, "It’s not that I want to; I want to help you manage this place on your behalf. Currently, there’s peace in the Four Seas, with no wars. This pass is like a chicken rib, and it should have been abolished long ago. Father, why not petition the Imperial Court to have His Majesty dismantle the checkpoint here, wouldn’t that save us some military expenditure for Great Song?"

Cai Jing’s face suddenly turned grave, and he smashed the cup in his hand onto the floor, cursing, "Ximen Qing, how dare you!"

Ximen Qing was frightened and hastily knelt on the ground, saying, "Honored Father, calm down. I truly act only for your benefit, with no personal gain involved!"

Cai Jing pointed at him and coldly smiled, "For me? I think it’s for yourself instead. Using my name, you indulge in misconduct outside. Aren’t you causing enough trouble for this old man?"

"Honored Father, I am wronged!"

Ximen Qing swallowed hard, and sweat started to bead on his forehead.

The servants came in to clean up the fragments and poured Cai Jing a new cup of hot tea.

Cai Jing picked it up, skimmed off the bubbles with the lid, and said, "His Majesty may dislike politics in recent years, but he is no fool. Yang Valley Pass is a crucial place for Military Strategists. How could it be abolished just on my say-so? If this pass is abolished, can you guarantee there will be no rebellion in the Qi and Lu two regions thereafter?"

Ximen Qing’s eyes rolled about, but he didn’t dare make a sound under Cai Jing’s reprimand, repeatedly apologizing, "I acknowledge my guilt, acknowledge my guilt!"

Cai Jing took a sip of tea and instructed with a muffled voice, "Enough, stand up and speak."

Ximen Qing breathed a sigh of relief, got up from the ground, and stood bowed in front of Cai Jing, not daring to utter a word.

Cai Jing said, "Although this pass cannot be abolished, you might find a way to cooperate with the general of Yang Valley Pass!"

Ximen Qing lamented, "Honored Father, I have tried everything. You don’t know what kind of person Wu Zhi is. He is a Martial Warrior who can’t be swayed by either hard or soft tactics. Every time I visited, I was chased away, and now I’m about to become a laughingstock of Yang Valley Pass."

Cai Jing said, "I have heard of Wu Zhi. His father dealt with me before, and he is indeed a Martial Warrior who doesn’t understand human affairs. He has quite a reputation in the Imperial Court, beyond my sole manipulation. You might consider other methods. If nothing works, make this person disappear. If anything happens to him, I can easily replace him with one of our people."

His words were calm, but his eyes brimmed with murderous intent.

Ximen Qing swallowed hard and repeatedly praised, "Honored Father indeed has thought it through. I understand."

He exchanged a few more compliments with Cai Jing, kowtowed, and cautiously withdrew.

At the Duke of Qizhou’s Mansion, after Song Gongming returned, Lady Song immediately informed him about Little Qingdou.

He frowned and curiously asked, "Is it true that Liangshan Island took in Qingdou?"

Lady Song nodded with a smile, saying, "Indeed, it is true. You’ve been away for over a month, and Qingdou has been there for over a month too."

Song Gongming asked, "Have you seen Qingdou?"

Lady Song shook her head, "No, how could a woman like me show her face around? I was waiting for you to return so you could go see her."

Song Gongming nodded, "It is right to visit them. I know about Liangshan Island. Initially, a Black Dragon Spirit occupied it. Later, a Daoist master took over. I heard the commotion caused quite a stir recently, even alerting the Heavenly Court, yet in the end, they couldn’t deal with that Daoist master."

Lady Song said, "That’s right. Your fourth son told me about it. This matter is widely known in the Cultivation World. Now, Liangshan Island is one of the top Cultivators’ Powers in Qizhou. Qingdou being fortunate enough to cultivate there is certainly her blessing."

Song Gongming laughed, "Indeed, indeed. I just worry about her mischievous nature, fearing she may cause trouble on the island, resulting in unfortunate events."

Lady Song said, "I, too, worry about that. That’s why I want you to go check on her. If this little one really causes trouble, as parents, we ought to make amends."

Song Gongming said, "Alright, have a generous gift prepared. I will take people over there tomorrow."

"I’ll do it right away!"

Lady Song nodded and withdrew, promptly arranging for a dozen carts of Spirit Stones, herbs, and other items needed in the Cultivation World.

The next day, Song Gongming called back his son, Song Shiyong, and took him along to Liangshan Island.

Song Shiyong behaved obediently in front of his father, not daring to flaunt his flying apparatus, and instead accompanied him by carriage.

In his eyes, such an old and outdated means of transportation should have been retired long ago.

Although his father’s carriage was quite nice, and even pulled by a Dragon Blood Steed, it still looked quite backward!