Chapter 111: Noon Sun River

The scenery in Youzhou still carried traces of summer—the flowers, grasses, and trees brimmed with vigorous life and vibrant colors, a stark contrast to the thin autumn of the Central Plains. Even the air was unusually dry.

People inside and outside the city attributed this to the leap year, offering various plausible explanations, yet only one person truly understood the cause behind this strange, scorching heat.

“Wherever I go, I stir up storms and turmoil. But Youzhou offers a place suitable for me to settle. So, I shall let you mortals enjoy a little more time!”

Shuo had found a perfect feng shui site, ideal for his day and night cultivation and meticulous self-nurturing.

However, the place was already occupied—by the lord of Youzhou himself.

Coincidentally, he was also a fellow practitioner who cherished cultivation, Shuo thought.

The Crown Prince Liu Yi favored peace and quiet; even his sleeping chamber was set high and far away. Liu Yi disliked disturbance, preferring solitary cultivation, subsisting daily on vegetarian meals and dew.

Liu Yi had another treasured place where he planted flowers and vegetables, a tranquil retreat near the confluence of rivers called the Noon Sun River.

Many feng shui masters had told Liu Li that this place gathered the perfect harmony of time and space, an excellent feng shui spot of utmost yang energy. They advised him to build a sacrificial altar there to seek blessings from heaven and earth and the spirit of all things. Yet, he regarded it merely as a vegetable garden and a pure sanctuary for quiet cultivation.

This spot was peculiar—the afternoon sun blazed fiercely throughout the year, indifferent to the seasons, yet the river never ran dry. Hence Liu Yi gave it its name. To prevent gossip among the people, very few knew of this place, and nearby villagers had long since moved away.

The garden was fragrant with blossoms, permeated with spiritual energy, every blade of grass and tree delighting the heart.

“Truly befitting of the Crown Prince—his tastes and sentiments are far more refined than ordinary men!” Shuo could not help but admire.

Since his last grievous injury had healed, Shuo could only venture out for three hours daily, and he had to be exposed to sunlight. Upon learning of Noon Sun River’s treasure, he came without hesitation. Merely sensing it lightly, Shuo had fallen deeply in love with this place.

The wind, water, earth, and fragrance here perfectly matched his preferences and needs. Such a splendid place—how had he only just discovered it now? Compared to the single beam of light in that cave or the deep waters of Blue Bird Lake, this was a paradise on earth.

“Here, my efforts will be twice as effective with half the exertion! How could I possibly miss such a place?”

Shuo contemplated many ways to negotiate with Liu Yi, but none seemed flawless. After all, he needed Liu Yi’s willing and discreet consent to yield this place. Otherwise, not only would the treasure land be ruined, but the matters involving the Empress Dowager would also be exposed.

So Shuo waited patiently, until a few days later when Liu Li arrived…

As another solar term arrived, Liu Yi came again to Noon Sun River to fish and weed.

Shuo sensed the visitor and knew he had an excellent opportunity.

Amidst green mountains and clear waters, fragrant blossoms filling the garden, a young man in white strolled in. He had a delicate countenance and pure gaze, like a sage long hidden from the world.

“Truly, he differs vastly from Xue Shi,” Shuo smiled. “No, I was wrong—Xue Shi is indeed far from him!”

With a sigh, Shuo cast a spell on the river. The calm waters churned into a massive whirlpool. Seizing Liu Yi’s momentary distraction, Shuo descended from the heavens, plunging into the river.

A flash of light streaked through the air as an object fell into the water, the splash and ripples startling Liu Yi.

He saw a man in black fall from the sky directly into the river, about to be drawn into the vortex, his face paling in shock.

“Who is this?”

Liu Yi hurried to the riverbank, grabbing a long bamboo pole to block the man’s drift, then plunged into the water to rescue the unconscious figure clad in black.

“Where did this man come from?” Liu Yi glanced at the serene sky, then struggled to carry the man to a nearby pavilion.

Shuo was delighted—everything was unfolding as he had planned—and he began to imagine what would happen next:

Liu Yi entered the room to pour some tea, then fetched some herbs. The man sat practicing cultivation.

Though the black-clad man faced away from Liu Yi, the pure immortal aura radiating from him was unmistakable—whether he was an enlightened sage or a righteous cultivator remained unknown…

After hesitating, Liu Yi took the items back inside, ignoring the man in the pavilion.

Seeing this, the black-clad man reverted to Shuo’s true form and strode boldly toward Liu Yi’s room.

“Since you brought tea, why not offer me some?”

Liu Yi did not turn his head, busily arranging the tea set.

“Now that you’ve recovered, why should I, a mere mortal, assist you further?”

“Judging by your calm demeanor and pure mind, how can you call yourself a mere mortal? How could you willingly degrade yourself to that status?”

Liu Yi smiled and poured Shuo a cup of tea.

“My fate is thus, unchangeable, but eventually I will transcend it.”

“Since you possess such resolve and even aided me in my tribulation, is there anything you need my help with?”

“A mere trifle, nothing worth mentioning!”

“Yet cultivation is not achieved through sudden enlightenment alone. Without guidance, mentors, or chance encounters, it is difficult for mortals like you to fulfill your wishes. Though I am not a master of the orthodox path, I do have some skill and clear sense of justice—I do not wish to owe anyone. How about I help illuminate your path of cultivation?”

“That is unnecessary. I hope to find my own way and opportunities. The heart is paramount in cultivation; I do not seek shortcuts.”

Hearing Liu Yi’s footsteps, Shuo quickly abandoned his schemes and lay still on the ground, thinking: This young man is no ordinary person—proud and hard to sway. I cannot reveal myself outright; I must wait for him to take the initiative…

Liu Yi entered the pavilion, noticing Shuo’s increasingly pale and troubled complexion. Doubt crept into his heart: This man must be some enlightened being, but why did he suddenly fall from the sky here? There were no obstacles or pursuers—why such a strange appearance?

Before he could ponder further, Liu Yi heard Shuo cough twice and fed him some of the liquid in his bowl.

Shuo knew it was merely plain water and would not aid his recovery, so he continued lying still. “Lying here makes no difference; better to endure the heat and hardship. To win his trust, I must suffer a little.”

Liu Yi left Shuo in the pavilion, occasionally stepping out to check on him. Each time, he felt Shuo’s condition worsening, as if he were edging toward death.

On the third check, Liu Yi’s compassion could no longer be held back, and he carried Shuo inside. The wooden house was cool, a relief from the scorching heat outside.

“Though his origins are unknown, he is still a life I cannot abandon. Since he is injured here, I will take good care of him and wait until he awakens before making plans.”

Liu Yi brewed some herbal decoction for Shuo and placed cold water beside the bed.

The oppressive heat finally eased somewhat, and Shuo’s complexion improved, though remaining motionless did not suit his unruly nature.

“How long must I endure this? If only I had asked Xue Shi earlier—what kind of temperament does this Crown Prince have? How can I gain his support and concessions?”

By afternoon, the air grew cooler. After finishing his meal, Liu Yi prepared to go water the flowers and weed the garden.

He checked inside and found Shuo unchanged, eyes still closed.

“What on earth is wrong with this man? Why won’t he wake?” Liu Yi sighed quietly, then went outside to tend the garden.