Three Drops in a Lily Pond

Previous   |   Next   Chapter 71: A Confession in the Snow In recent years, the important meetings of the Heaven's Way Alliance had all been held in Lin’an. The great sects also built branch residences outside Busi to facilitate sect communications. The entire city of Lin’an was structured around Busi at its core. Around it, the branch residences of the various sects formed the first ring; outside that lay the private mansions of powerful individuals, forming the second ring. Beyond that lived ordinary cultivators, wealthy merchants, and landed gentry, comprising the third ring. Outside the three rings were markets selling daily necessities and inns and taverns for travelers to rest. As for ordinary people with little savings, in this land where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, they could not even afford a latrine. Within the territories governed by the Heaven's Way Alliance, every child had to undergo an aptitude test at birth. Based on their sp...

Previous   |   Next   Chapter 70: On the Importance of Winter Fur This matter was difficult to clear of suspicion. Even more troublesome was that the Endless Longevity Academy might not be willing to let the yao explain themselves. From the moment Bai Chen saw the image of the Nine-tailed White Fox, he had already begun planning a countermeasure. Now that Bai Hangshou asked, he calmly answered, “Master of the Academy, this is a blade handed to you and me.” His words seemed to come out of nowhere. Even Li Wuming, who was ready to step in at any moment to shield his Dao companion, didn’t understand. Naturally, Bai Hangshou was even more confused, holding his tea as he asked, “What do you mean?” “The Endless Longevity Academy wouldn’t be foolish enough to send its disciples to ambush the Nine-tailed White Fox. Likewise, even if I didn’t know that Master Qiu had arranged a Recording Stone in Dongling, I wouldn’t bother personally dealing with a few children who hadn...

Previous   |   Next   Chapter 69: A Pit Ahead According to the latest statistics from the Unknown Truth Sect, this year the top three communication-type magic treasures among the human race are: ‘Lingxi Link’, ‘Cloudbrocade Letter’, and ‘Twin Stones of Sound and Shadow’. [The wonders of Chinese: 靈犀 (líng xī) = literally “spiritual rhinoceros,” but in Chinese idiom (心有靈犀一點通), it means “a mysterious telepathic connection” or “hearts that resonate as one.”] The first, the Lingxi Link, was developed by the Unknown Truth Sect. It consists of a pair of rhinoceros horn earrings. As long as they are worn separately, the users can converse with each other no matter if they are in the sky or under the sea. The earrings can be hidden beneath hair, making them extremely discreet, and they are also quite suitable for eavesdropping. Because of this, the Unknown Truth Sect never sells them to outsiders; they are currently equipped only by the sect’s elite Heaven-class guards. ...

Previous   |   Next   Chapter 68: The Little Fox Wants to Haggle While Bai Chen was fending off his man’s perverse attempt to bury his face in his fur, the first letter had already been delivered by Ying Xiong to the Myriad Treasures Hall’s secondary residence. That blockhead did not disappoint Bai Chen. He didn’t care whether the disciples of the Myriad Treasures Hall would accept the letter or not — he simply slapped it down on their table and considered the task complete, turning to leave without even giving them a chance to refuse. Faced with such behavior, the guards of the Myriad Treasures Hall dared not act rashly, and could only hand the letter over to Lin Xuan, leaving all decisions to the hall master. The Myriad Treasures Hall originated from merchants. Though it ranked as the second seat of the Heaven’s Way Alliance and was a powerful sect, its internal structure still resembled a business guild. Ten shareholders were elected to manage affairs, with s...

Previous   |   Next   Chapter 67: Three Invitations Lin’an was originally built by the usurper of Western Liang in imitation of Chang’an. The imperial palace within the city and the markets and streets outside were identical to those of Chang’an, even down to the maple trees planted in the outskirts, which were of the same variety as those in Chang’an’s forests. However, in the past two hundred years imperial power had waned, and the Unknown Truth Sect rose in strength. Talents from all sides gathered in Lin’an, and as the sect grew, so too was the city expanded again and again. Now, Chang’an was merely a historical city for scholars to reminisce about, while Lin’an had become the most prosperous city of the human race. Not a single one of its permanent residents was anything less than a powerful cultivator, wealthy magnate, or landed gentry. In recent years, human craftsmanship had greatly advanced. Newly developed tiles and the latest architectural styles alwa...