Chapter Eight: Ulterior Motives

Master’s Cliff is named after the Master, the foremost Confucian scholar of the current age, who resides there. A humble dwelling is built against the edge of a precipice; while it appears perilous, it is a serene sanctuary for the Master and his disciples.

The interior is sparsely furnished: a wooden bed, a bookshelf filled with bamboo slips, and a desk that the Master only wipes down when he is engraving new scripts. Beside the cliff stands a willow tree, its branches swaying gracefully in the wind, exuding a gentle charm. Beneath this tree, the Master often sits to discourse on the Way and resolve his disciples' doubts regarding their cultivation.

"Jian Yi, go to Linjiang City in the State of Wei. Bring back a young lad carrying the Master’s token; do not let him cause any great disaster. Temper him on the journey back; it will not do for one so young to rely on his connections to run wild."

Jian Yi, summoned by the Master, rose from his meditation cushion, bowed respectfully, retreated several paces, drew the sword from his back, and formed a hand seal to ride the wind on his blade.

"Teacher, Jian Yi has no sense of direction. If you send him to find someone, then..." a female disciple ventured to remind him.

The Master felt a sudden headache. His form shifted into a rainbow, streaking across the sky to catch up with Jian Yi. Within three seconds, he intercepted his disciple and tapped him lightly on the forehead. Instantly, a clear, real-time navigational map appeared in Jian Yi’s mind.

Jian Yi, usually cold and detached, looked unnatural, then insisted firmly, "Teacher, you actually doubted me. How could I possibly lose my way?"

The Master, unwilling to engage with his stubborn disciple, flicked his sleeves, and mist rose as he transformed once more into a rainbow, disappearing across the horizon. Returning to Master’s Cliff, the Master found his other disciples frolicking and laughing, not one of them focused on their cultivation. Finding the sight vexing, he let them be and vanished once more, heading to parts unknown.

In Linjiang City, the feast from the previous night had lasted until the small hours. With delicacies, fine wines, golden goblets, and beauties dancing, Liu An was so intoxicated by the luxury that he had forgotten his home.

City Lord Zhao sat at the head of the table, continuously praising Liu An for his youthful promise, to which Liu An responded with polite, humble gestures.

"Brother Liu, I notice you have yet to step into the First Realm. Surely you came to my Linjiang City for the Pool of Life?" City Lord Zhao approached him with a wine cup.

"What is the Pool of Life?" Liu An wondered, but he answered calmly, "Indeed, just as you say, Brother Zhao." *Keep quiet and go along with whatever the City Lord says,* Liu An thought—it was the safest strategy.

Delighted that his guess was correct, City Lord Zhao declared boldly, "I will reserve a spot in the Pool of Life for you, brother."

Liu An raised his glass to toast the City Lord. "Brother Zhao, if you ever need anything from me in the future, just say the word."

Seeing that he had secured Liu An’s favor, City Lord Zhao’s smile widened. He called for a servant to bring a flagon of wine and drank heartily. In his exuberance, he draped an arm around Liu An’s neck and whispered, "Brother, I have absolute authority in Linjiang City. Whatever you see in this city, take it. I will handle any trouble for you."

Liu An did not stand on ceremony, pressing the City Lord to drink. They drank for two hours, both becoming thoroughly intoxicated and flushed. Liu An was carried by servants to a guest room, where they closed the door and tiptoed away.

However, once alone, neither the City Lord in the banquet hall nor Liu An in the room showed any sign of drunkenness. Both were perfectly clear-headed, as if they had never touched a drop of alcohol.

City Lord Zhao summoned his steward and ordered in a hushed tone, "Tonight, sneak into Liu An’s room and steal his Master’s token to verify its authenticity. If it is genuine, put it back. If it is fake, finish him." He made a throat-slitting gesture. The steward acknowledged the order and withdrew. City Lord Zhao stretched, lazily pulling two beauties into his embrace, inhaling their fragrance with greedy intoxication.

In his room, Liu An practiced his breathing technique. The alcohol vaporized and was expelled from his body, his complexion quickly returning to normal. He exhaled a breath of stale air, though his stomach still churned with nausea. His companion, a creature known as the "Four-Unlike," hopped through the window and whispered what it had overheard from the City Lord and the steward.

Liu An decided to wait and see. He trusted the token his master had given him, and even if worse came to worse, he had a strand of his master’s protective sword qi. He lay down on the bed and fell fast asleep.

In the dead of night, the steward blew sleep-inducing incense into Liu An’s room. After a moment, he crept in with a candle and, by its faint light, easily found the Master’s token on the pillow. He retreated with trembling steps and rushed to the City Lord’s quarters.

City Lord Zhao was interrupted while enjoying the company of three beauties. Irritated, he dismissed them and beckoned the steward inside.

"City Lord, look at this token," the steward said fawningly, offering the token with an expectant look.

City Lord Zhao took the token; it felt cold, like ordinary iron. "I have heard that the Master’s token glows golden in fire and turns as dark as ink in water. Bring a brazier and a basin of water."

Soon, the items were brought. The City Lord placed the token in the fire—it shone with a brilliant gold light—and then in the water, where it turned pitch black.

"Wonderful! Excellent! I can foster a connection with an heir of the Master who has infinite potential; perhaps one day I can climb even higher through this relationship. Pass the word to every noble family in the city: anyone who dares to obstruct my brother Liu An will be crossing the Zhao family. Tell them to weigh the consequences."

The steward hesitated. "City Lord, should we return the token now? Delay might lead to complications."

"Yes, yes, return it at once!" City Lord Zhao urged.

The night passed quickly. When Liu An woke and opened his door, he found four or five maids waiting with basins, towels, petals, and robes. They invited him inside and began to serve him skillfully. One maid changed his clothes, while the others brought a basin of water infused with petals. A maid gently wiped his face with a damp towel. Liu An, shedding his usual reserve, enjoyed the pampering.

Once he was washed and dressed, the maids withdrew. A servant knelt on one knee to greet him, then bowed and gestured for Liu An to follow him to dine with City Lord Zhao.