As dusk settled, a stranger arrived at the blacksmith's forge. He appeared to be in his thirties, tall and well-built, with finely arched eyebrows and a fair complexion. His delicate, almost androgynous features stood in striking contrast to his robust and masculine frame, exuding a unique and compelling presence. Upon learning the man's identity, Ruan Qiong refrained from treating him with the same casualness he had shown when receiving Cui Minghuang from the Guanhushu Academy. This time, instead of chatting briefly at the sword-forging chamber's threshold, he had Ruan Xiu bring out two bamboo chairs to the veranda, along with two fine jugs of wine—one for each man.
The stranger showed no reservation. He took the wine jug, broke the clay seal, and took a hearty swig before smiling, "Master Ruan, your recent display has sent shockwaves through the court. As for how the imperial court will respond, I cannot say for certain. But as the newly appointed Superintendent of the Kilns and the inaugural Prefect of Longquan County, I must say—your actions have spared me from many tiresome negotiations. By rights, I ought to have come bearing fine wine as a gesture of goodwill. Yet, when I heard of the upheaval while en route, I spurred my horse and arrived in haste. The two great jars of apricot blossom wine from the New Year shop on Qilong Alley—let us consider those an IOU for now."
Ruan Qiong waved his hand dismissively. "No need for pleasantries. If today's discussion ends in agreement, we'll have plenty of chances to drink and talk. If it doesn't, there's even less need for niceties."
The man let out a hearty laugh—more like a chivalrous wanderer of the martial world than a high-ranking official of Great Li. He wiped the corner of his mouth and rested the wine jug on his knee, now fully focused on the matter at hand.
"The mountain sealed off during the Chunhui reign of Great Li—officially referred to as Jia Liu Mountain in the confidential records of the Ministry of Revenue—is known as Dragonspine Mountain in local gazetteers. Midway up the mountain lies a naturally formed, massive Dragon-Slaying Platform. Before my appointment, His Majesty held an audience to discuss this very matter, and he declared that the platform would be jointly held by the Wind and Snow Temple and Zhenwu Mountain. How you two martial factions divide it—whether you choose to excavate, partition, leave it untouched as ancestral legacy, or transport it to your respective sects—will be entirely up to you. The imperial court will not intervene. You may do as you please. Should you require aid from Great Li, even something as small as employing the two young mountain-moving apes under our command to help expose the platform, Master Ruan need not hesitate to ask."
Ruan Qiong smiled. "Great Li's sincerity is impressive."
Just as the new Superintendent was about to respond in kind, Ruan Qiong added, "That Dragon-Slaying Platform—before I arrived, our Wind and Snow Temple and Zhenwu Mountain had already reached an agreement. I, Ruan Qiong, along with Wind and Snow Temple and Zhenwu Mountain, each hold one-third. You may have heard whispers from your emperor—I intend to establish a sect here. My daughter and I have already removed our names from the Wind and Snow Temple's register. Though I cannot formally establish the sect within the next sixty years, if your Great Li continues to behave admirably, once that period ends, I will choose a suitable peak to serve as the foundation of our mountain gate."
The man, now both Superintendent and Prefect of the county, could not conceal his delight. It was clear he had been waiting for Ruan Qiong to say just that. He eagerly replied, "Master Ruan, you have my full assurance. Barring Cloudveil Mountain, the current territory has sixty-one designated peaks. You may select any three as the foundation of your future sect. If you are not inclined to decide right away, I can first show you the old and new topographical maps of Lizhu Cave-Heaven, and then accompany you on a personal survey. Once you've seen them with your own eyes, you may decide at your leisure—how does that sound?"
Any dynasty would count itself fortunate to have a cultivator of Ruan Qiong's caliber anchoring its lands. What's more, Ruan's implication was not that he would simply serve as a guest official or imperial advisor, but that he intended to take root here, binding his fate to that of the realm. This wasn't a fleeting alliance—it was the start of something enduring. His presence would directly bolster the national fortune. Even if the Emperor himself were seated here, he would be overjoyed.
Though Great Li was home to many formidable warriors—led by vassal king Song Changjing, with more experts above the fifth realm than anywhere in Eastern Baoping Continent—it had always lacked true immortals. This imbalance between martial strength and spiritual cultivation had long been a thorn in the emperor's side.
Ruan Qiong chuckled, "No need to rush about 'claiming a mountain and crowning oneself king.' To be blunt, aside from your unwillingness to cede Cloudveil Mountain, there's hardly a peak here that catches my eye."
The young Superintendent looked mildly embarrassed. Before arriving, not only he but even the Emperor and his own mentor had thought that while there was a chance Ruan might establish a sect here, it was slim. Great Li lacked sufficient bargaining chips. As for the Dragon-Slaying Platform—had Ruan not secured it himself through negotiation with the Wind and Snow Temple and Zhenwu Mountain, Great Li would never have risked offending both sects merely to win him over. Even a mighty empire like Great Li could not afford such a cost.
Ruan Qiong suddenly said, "Although neither of the two sects proposed it, I personally hope your Great Li can provide two exceptionally sharp divine weapons—blades or swords, it matters not. So long as they are usable, I'll see they're handed over to the two martial cultivators responsible for splitting the Dragon-Slaying Platform. You may report this to your court and await His Majesty's reply. There's no urgency."
After a brief pause, the Superintendent spoke with steady resolve. "Master Ruan, I can approve that on my own authority. Consider it agreed."
Ruan Qiong nodded and took another sip of wine, visibly satisfied with the man's decisiveness and bearing. Given that he would be dealing with this man, Wu Yuan, for quite some time, he was glad he was no fool. A cowardly or petty man would have been a far worse ordeal.
Wu Yuan hesitated briefly, drank again as if to steel his nerves, then said, "Master Ruan, firstly, the thirty-some dragon kilns outside the town will resume operations, though they'll only fire ordinary ceremonial wares for the court henceforth. Secondly, once the new county office is completed on the town's eastern side, it will post notices displaying Great Li's laws, and scribes with some literary aptitude will be sent to explain them publicly—so that common townsfolk understand that they are now citizens of Great Li."
Ruan Qiong's gaze turned cold as he glanced at Wu Yuan, nominally the County Prefect. Wu smiled and offered an explanation. "This is merely a superficial measure for the sake of mortal scholars. For the next sixty years, your word will remain law within a thousand-mile radius. The traditions of the four surnames and ten clans will take precedence next, with imperial law ranking last. Should any conflict arise, this hierarchy shall prevail. Within this territory, Great Li will not interfere in your affairs and will stand by you without hesitation. Take the recent case of that cultivator from Ziyan River whose body you destroyed—he dared to leverage his connections in the capital to bring a complaint before His Majesty. Upon hearing this, my mentor immediately dispatched someone to obliterate his soul."
Ruan Qiong frowned, a trace of irritation on his face. "Tell your master to refrain from such unnecessary theatrics. Saving face means nothing to me. I'm a crude blacksmith, not one for political intrigue. If your Great Li truly wishes to show sincerity, give me tangible benefits. Whether I accept them is another matter. That Ziyan River wretch—if I had wanted him dead, he wouldn't have escaped, not with a hundred legs. If I truly meant to kill, how many in Great Li could stop me? And even if they could—would they dare?"
Wu Yuan's face paled slightly. His voice grew dry as he murmured, "Understood, Master Ruan."
Ruan Qiong chose not to press the matter further. After all, this was their first meeting. One couldn't expect a stranger to get everything right the first time.