Chapter Thirty-Six: Ancient Cliff Inscriptions!

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Yang Nan’s expression was solemn, and Yang Jin and the others were filled with awe. They hurriedly replied, “Your Grace possesses the methods of an immortal. We will certainly engrave your words upon our hearts. We shall also erect a stele outside the ancestral shrine to explain the matter, so outsiders will never dare enter.”

Yang Nan smiled calmly. “I have now paid my respects to our ancestors. From this day forth, if I have descendants, they shall inherit the family estate. If I leave no heirs, then the Yang family shall be governed by your branches. So long as no rebellious sons arise, whether they serve as officials or live as commoners, you may all dwell here in peace and prosper.”

When Yang Nan mentioned this, Fang Qingyan tried her utmost to remain composed, yet her heart still trembled. Her husband’s indifference toward having children had finally revealed itself.

Though she had long known this, she could not help feeling desolate and sorrowful.

Yang Jin and the other two clasped their hands respectfully. “We are merely members of collateral branches. We would never dare entertain such an outrageous thought. Your Grace may rest assured. With members of the Yang clan here, the ancestral home will remain secure. Our entire families await the descendants of the Young Duke, who will one day come here to take charge of Azure Nether.”

Yang Nan turned to the four men known as Elder Brother Yang and said, “The four of you have served my grandfather for several decades. From now on, settle here in Azure Nether Mountain. Guarding the ancestral residence is a matter of great importance, and this will also spare you the hardship of constant travel. What do you think?”

Elder Brother Yang bowed. “Young Master, the four of us brothers possess no immortal affinity and cannot follow you in cultivating the immortal path. To protect the peace of this mountain is precisely what we have always wished to do.”

Not everyone could cultivate the immortal path. The four servants knew full well that they had no hope of doing so, and naturally dared not harbor any extravagant ambitions. To establish a home in the ancestral residence was already a great blessing. The Young Master had now grown into an adult and would surely make his own arrangements. If Yang Nan’s descendants came here in the future, perhaps the bond between master and servant might continue anew.

Yang Nan nodded. He immediately passed on to them various martial arts techniques he had happened to learn, including the Blood Battle Saber Technique and the Tiger Grappling Form. He even taught them a number of simple talismanic arts and spells. His learning was extremely broad. There were few children in the village with the spiritual bones required for cultivation, so the martial arts Yang Nan taught were naturally considered first-rate in the world, while his magical arts were merely ordinary. He taught them to the four men only so that they might defend themselves.

After settling these matters, Yang Nan finally left his ancestral home, Yang Family Village, with Fang Qingyan riding beside him on the Azure Donkey. Having received their solemn charge, the four servants remained in Yang Family Village from that day onward, devoting themselves wholeheartedly to their duties. Yang Jin hung a portrait of Yang Nan inside the ancestral shrine, placing it alongside the portraits of the family’s forebears.

When Yang Nan departed, more than a thousand villagers, young and old, came to see him off. Yang Nan waved his sleeve. “Go back. From this day forth, live peaceful and proper lives, and our Yang Family Village shall remain free of trouble.”

The Azure Donkey stepped into the void and trod upon the white clouds, heading toward Azure Nether Mountain. As the clouds scattered and the figure faded into the distance, only the deeply moved members of the Yang clan remained behind.

After returning to Azure Nether Mountain, Yang Nan arrived at Brocade Peak. The Hu Yang Academy had been divided into three sections, which were in truth three separate academies, each teaching entirely different subjects. The Literary Academy focused on scholarship, the Elegance Academy on calligraphy, while the Brocade Academy offered the broadest curriculum, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. The Brocade Academy was presided over by Lan Qing.

Yang Nan walked directly into the academy and saw Lan Qing playing the qin for his own enjoyment. Nearby, several disciples swayed their heads as they listened. The clear, lingering music echoed through the mountains, carrying an air of transcendence.

The qin rang like metal, mountain springs tinkled, and the resonant voices of students reciting their lessons drifted through the vast, empty hills.

This melody, “The Hermit of the Empty Mountains,” fully expressed the lofty aspiration of the Confucian sages: when poor, cultivate one’s own virtue; when successful, benefit the whole world.

Hearing such refined and exquisite music, Yang Nan clapped his hands and laughed. “Riding the long wind, breaking through ten thousand leagues of waves; I shall hang my cloud sail high and cross the vast sea! Master Lan, what a magnificent spirit you possess. I am truly impressed!”

When Lan Qing finished playing, he saw Yang Nan approaching and smiled. “Yang Nan, have you settled the matter of the ancestral shrine?”

Yang Nan nodded. “Thank you for asking, Master Lan. My family affairs are concluded. I was about to return to the mountain to cultivate, and I came especially to report to you.”

Lan Qing studied Yang Nan closely, warmth appearing in his eyes. “The Daoist school and the Confucian school differ greatly. Though the Daoist school enters the world, it speaks of transcending the world. The Confucian school dwells amid the present age and speaks of serving it. The Buddhist school exists in this life yet cultivates for the next. The past life, this life, and the future life—the path of the three existences corresponds to the Daoist, Confucian, and Buddhist schools. Though they appear utterly different, their roots are one. There is an ancient cliff inscription on Azure Nether Mountain, said to be a relic left by an immortal from antiquity. If you have the time, you may go and take a look. Perhaps you will comprehend something of the ultimate Dao.”

An ancient cliff inscription?

Yang Nan had just been admiring the Confucian grandmaster’s evaluation of the Three Teachings when he suddenly heard that an immortal relic still existed on Azure Nether Mountain. His curiosity immediately stirred. He cupped his hands. “I was just planning to devote myself to cultivation. Since Master Lan has offered your guidance, I shall go there at once.”

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Lan Qing waved his hand, signaling that there was no need for such courtesy. Scholars of the Heart-Seal Confucian school had never been bound by etiquette, and his casual manner made Yang Nan feel much more at ease.

He had come to this place where literary spirit gathered intending to settle his official affairs and then find a quiet place in which to cultivate. Now that Azure Nether Mountain possessed an ancient immortal relic, a powerful curiosity immediately arose within him.

Fang Qingyan saw that her husband was about to cultivate again and smiled. “Husband, you rarely return to Azure Nether Mountain. Why not remain here for several months? I can return to Wenyang Prefecture on my own.”

Cultivation, cultivation—how could one become an immortal without cultivating?

If a Daoist did not labor diligently but merely busied himself with worldly affairs, how could he ever hope to attain the immortal path?

Fang Qingyan had never been willing to hinder Yang Nan’s progress along the Great Dao. Her thoughtfulness left him somewhat embarrassed. After considering for a moment, he nodded. “Very well. It is only right that you return to Wenyang Prefecture and spend more time with your parents. I will send all my personal guards with you. With your father-in-law protecting you, you should be perfectly safe in Wenyang Prefecture.”

Fang Qingyan giggled. “Husband, you worry too much. I grew up in Wenyang Prefecture. What danger could there possibly be?”

Though she showed no concern herself, she was deeply touched by her husband’s care. She poured all her tenderness and affection upon Yang Nan. It could not make his love surge like an ocean, but it did win from him a measure of genuine feeling.

For an ordinary man, that feeling would have been far from enough. But for Yang Nan, it was already exceedingly rare.

Yang Nan shook his head. He had his own hidden concerns. Though Zhu Ding’s origins were mysterious, his attainments in divination and occult calculation were astonishing. Since he had said that Qingyan would not live past this year, they had to be cautious.

“Qingyan, caution is the surest path to longevity. Once you return to the Southern Continent, do not take even one step outside the city. I will order Old Crab and the others to set aside everything and protect you with all their strength. Unless someone levels the entire Southern Continent, they will not be able to harm even a single hair on your head!”

A murderous aura flickered in Yang Nan’s eyes. He refused to believe that anyone in this world could be bold enough to kill his beloved wife in the heart of a provincial capital.

He was different from Bu Xu. Bu Xu was cold on the outside and murderous within, whereas Yang Nan was warm on the outside and cold within.

In this life, apart from his grandfather and his wife, even if someone were as close to him as an uncle, what would it matter if he turned his blade against them?

In this mortal world, everyone except those I love may be cut down.

Yang Nan’s expression was grave. Fang Qingyan also understood that it was wiser to believe such a warning than to dismiss it. She smiled. “I shall obey, my husband. Since you are a cultivator of the immortal path, why put your faith in the pronouncements of fate? Be careful not to become attached to appearances.”

Qingyan blinked playfully, her eyes filled with delight. Yang Nan smiled despite himself. Had it been anyone else, he would have been too lazy to care whether they lived or died. But this deeply devoted wife of his was different. If some accident truly befell her, just as Zhu Ding had predicted, Yang Nan did not know how he would bear it.

If fate did not exist, how could Yang Nan have been reincarnated into this world?

This alone showed how fickle fate and destiny were.

It was not that fate could never be transcended. Yang Nan simply was not yet powerful enough.

If he could truly become an immortal, he would be able to sever all karmic ties and destinies, and determine every cause and effect throughout the Three Realms and Six Paths.

Until then, if he did not proceed cautiously at every step and remain constantly vigilant, how could he possibly survive?

Yang Nan summoned Commander Shrimp and more than a hundred of his soldiers. In a solemn voice, he said, “Old Shrimp, take the personal guards and remain close to the Madam’s side. Once you return to the Southern Continent, gather Old Crab, Octopus, Red Sun, and Roc. During the several months I am away, if the Madam suffers even the slightest mishap, I will have your heads!”

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Four grandmasters accompanied by several thousand demon soldiers of master rank represented the pinnacle of military power in the human world. If even this could not guarantee Qingyan’s safety, where in all under heaven could there possibly be a safe place?

Commander Shrimp saw the murderous expression on his master’s face and shrank back in fright. Then he thumped his chest and shouted, “Young Master, rest assured! With Old Shrimp here, anyone who wishes to harm the Madam will have to step over my corpse. So long as Old Shrimp lives, the Madam lives! Even if Old Shrimp dies, the Madam will still live!”

The hundred-odd personal guards shouted in unison, “We are all willing to die for our master! Whenever danger comes, we shall perish before allowing it to reach the Madam!”

Domesticated demons were always relatively loyal. Yang Nan finally felt reassured and said calmly, “If you can keep the Madam safe, that will be a great service. Whatever I, Yang Nan, possess in the future shall belong to you as well.”

Seeing how thoroughly her husband had arranged for her safety, Fang Qingyan was deeply moved, though she could not express it in words. She merely gazed at Yang Nan, her beautiful eyes shimmering with overflowing tenderness.

“Your wife bids you farewell, husband. I hope you will not let thoughts of this humble wife distract you. Devote yourself to cultivating the Dao.”

She bowed gracefully, then mounted a white cloud and journeyed toward Wenyang Prefecture under the protection of the personal guards.

For some reason, an indescribable shadow continued to hang over Yang Nan’s heart. The sensation vanished as quickly as it appeared. He tried to investigate it but found nothing. In the end, he shook his head and mocked himself.

“Ever since descending the mountain, I have been burdened with countless worldly affairs. Even my heart has grown soft. With this disposition, how can I ever cultivate a perfectly lucid Dao-heart?”

Yang Nan flicked his sleeve and proceeded up the steps along the mountaintop. Brocade Peak, Literary Peak, and Elegance Peak stood side by side, resembling three ancient vermilion brushes thrusting into the heavens and earth.

At the summit of Azure Nether Mountain’s Literary Spirit Peak, there was indeed a vast stretch of perilous cliff. Yang Nan rode the Yin-Eroding Dharmic Weapon to the top and suddenly saw six enormous ancient characters above him, carved as though by axes and blades, their deep strokes sunk dramatically into the stone.

Boom!

An indescribably powerful spiritual pressure surged toward him.

Yang Nan’s mind trembled, and he was startled into alarm. In that instant, he seemed to see countless divine weapons and razor-edged blades tearing through the air and surrounding him. Their points were aimed at him, carrying the might of wailing ghosts, howling wolves, and a roaring heaven and earth.

The Former Life. The Present Life. The Future Life.

The six enormous and majestic ancient characters seemed like separate paintings, winding and moving across the sheer cliff.

Every stroke and every character was filled with the concentrated righteous force of heaven and earth. They resembled pillars supporting the sky, or divine weapons radiating overwhelming might, inspiring a profound sense of one’s own insignificance.

Yet when Yang Nan saw these ancient characters, wrought with hooked silver strokes and forged-iron lines as though created by ghosts and gods, what he felt was entirely different from the disciples of the Confucian school.

These six great characters were unmistakably the work of the Martial School.

Only the Martial School’s keen, unyielding spirit could have written characters so astonishing that both spirits and gods would tremble upon seeing them on such a sheer cliff.

Within the characters lay an inexhaustible intent of solemn slaughter. Every hook and every stroke seemed to become a divine weapon springing forth, eager to sever the roots of the mortal world and annihilate the Three Existences and Six Paths.

There was no martial body behind them, only martial intent—and yet merely looking upon that intent was enough to make one’s heart tremble with fear.