## Chapter 39: Rejected Again, Epidemic Erupts
2013-02-09 Author: Gu Zhenren
“Tiange Academy has always been neutral. Chu Yun, I cannot agree to your request,” the Tiange Academy Master slowly shook his head upon learning Chu Yun’s intentions, still refusing him.
“Is that so…” Chu Yun lowered his head, his gaze dimming, knowing his second attempt had failed.
However, he didn’t blame the Tiange Academy Master. On the contrary, he could sense the old man’s helplessness. The world didn’t revolve around him; he had understood this principle in his previous life. He hadn’t held much hope to begin with, so being rejected was normal.
If he were in Tiange Academy’s position, would he have made the same choice?
A slight disappointment settled in his heart, but he remained calm.
“Then this student will take his leave,” he said to the Tiange Academy Master and the white-browed Alchemist.
The white-browed Alchemist gave him a slight nod. The Tiange Academy Master, however, gently advised, “Chu Yun, you have talent and opportunities. Do not be disheartened. Strive to improve yourself. Only strength is paramount.”
“This student remembers,” Chu Yun bowed his head and retreated. He knew that strength was paramount and had been desperately trying to improve himself. But he was unwilling!
Deeply unwilling.
He knew an opportunity was within his grasp, yet he was unable to protect the fruits of success due to his weakness.
Even with a Great Demon Soldier in hand and being on the 108 Heroes List, Chu Yun still felt his own weakness.
What the Tiange Academy Master said was correct and hit the nail on the head. Improving one’s strength was paramount. But Chu Yun did not want to give up on Shu Family Island.
In his past life, he had suffered enough as a lone wolf. The deeper one’s Beast Tamer cultivation, the more resources were needed. At such times, having a force supporting you would make things twice as effective and much more comfortable!
If, in his past life, he had had the support of Shu Family Island behind him, Chu Yun would not have been driven to desperation, seeking out dangerous hidden places, only to end up covered in scars with his lifespan depleted.
“I absolutely cannot let Shu Family Island perish like this, but where can I find an ally, a reliable ally?” Walking on the mountain path, Chu Yun instinctively clenched his fists, his heart filled with confusion.
In the evening, Yan Que came to visit.
“Has the matter over there been handled?” Chu Yun was not surprised by Yan Que’s arrival.
“It has been handled, my lord,” Yan Que bowed with clasped fists, his tone slightly stiff.
Chu Yun smiled. This was understandable. No matter how good one’s disposition, after losing a bet against oneself, their mood would not be pleasant.
“This subordinate has one matter he does not understand, and requests my lord’s enlightenment,” Yan Que paused before adding.
“It should be about that last riddle?”
“My lord sees clearly. Before this, this subordinate had already deciphered eight parts. Only the last two sentences remain, and their meaning is unclear,” Yan Que frowned, deeply troubled by this outcome.
“Moonlight like water, affection like flowers. Eloquent speech. Sword light and sword shadows enter Danqing, willingly transforming. A turn of the brush sweeps away the horizontal mountain. Two six seven four five one eight, eight five four six seven two three,” Chu Yun recited the final riddle.
After sighing, he continued, “Moonlight like water, affection like flowers is a word puzzle, the answer being ‘vine’. Eloquent speech, in other words, is ‘rumor’. Combining the two, it’s not hard to guess it refers to ‘rumor-mongering vine’.”
“Sword light and sword shadows enter Danqing implies ‘profitable’. The overall meaning is that beneath the rumor-mongering vine, there is profit to be made. This is the burial site of the inheritance item.”
“Willingly transforming, a difficult point to understand. Rotate the character ‘甘’ (gan) and change one of its strokes, and it becomes ‘丹’ (dan).”
“The next two sentences, ‘a turn of the brush,’ means shifting the ‘毛’ (mao) under ‘笔’ (bi) to form the character ‘手’ (shou). ‘Sweep away the horizontal mountain,’ the character ‘扫’ (sao), removing the horizontal ‘山’ (shan) (彐), becomes 扌. This is also the character ‘手’ (shou). The two ‘手’ characters combined with the ‘丹’ character above mean to use dual hand seals to perform pill refining incantations!”
“And the numbers below are the steps for performing the hand seals.”
Yan Que frowned and nodded. “I’ve deciphered all of this. But why would the numbers below be for pill refining hand seals? Honestly, I had thought of that. But basic pill refining incantations only have seven basic seals.”
“Those are not basic seals. They are the Eight Section Brocade pill refining hand seals, uniquely created by the third generation Academy Master. This Upper grade set of hand seals contains eight of the most fundamental hand seals. I only learned them from the white-browed Alchemist recently.”
Chu Yun’s words immediately enlightened Yan Que.
“So that’s how it is, so that’s how it is… It’s all a matter of timing and fate. What a pity, what a lament…” He stood stunned for a moment, his expression dejected, sighing with profound sorrow, appearing somewhat lost.
Chu Yun inwardly felt ashamed. In fact, it was only last night, by inferring from the answer and relying on his past life’s knowledge, that he had thoroughly unraveled the final riddle.
Yan Que had actually been very close to the final inheritance, but he had lacked the crucial last step—the Eight Section Brocade pill refining hand seals.
According to Chu Yun’s estimation, in his past life, Yan Que must have obtained the Eight Section Brocade pill refining hand seals from the white-browed Alchemist. He then received the inheritance, obtained the Spiraling Pill Essence Tree, and finally soared to prominence, becoming a celebrated figure.
However, in this life, Chu Yun had come to Tiange Academy and snatched his opportunity, leaving Yan Que stuck at the final step.
If one were to trace the cause and effect, Chu Yun should actually be grateful to Jin Bihan. If it weren’t for her Jade Dream, Chu Yun’s hand seals would not have improved. Without the improvement of his hand seals, the white-browed Alchemist would not have mistaken Chu Yun’s talent as exceptional and imparted the Eight Section Brocade pill refining hand seals.
Only Chu Yun fully understood the intricate workings of this. Everyone else was still in the dark.
“Given that, it is not unjust that Yan Que was defeated by my lord. Yan Que submits,” after a long contemplation, Yan Que sighed at Chu Yun.
Chu Yun smiled. “You say you submit, but you don’t truly accept it. In your heart, there is still unwillingness, still a sense of indignation. But it’s only natural, and I understand. Actually, your arrival is timely. I am facing difficulties now and need your advice.”
Yan Que did not argue with Chu Yun’s words, only clasped his fists and said, “My lord, please speak. Yan Que will do his best.”
Immediately, Chu Yun revealed all the details about Ning Family Island, Shu Family Island, the salt fields, and the epidemic in Biluo Seaweed to Yan Que.
Yan Que fell into deep thought.
Chu Yun’s expression was calm. He did this solely to test Yan Que’s intelligence. Chu Yun knew that the current Yan Que was not the “Calculating Perfection” of his past life and still needed improvement. However, perhaps the suggestions Yan Que might offer could spark his own inspiration.
Chu Yun was purely approaching it with this mindset when he asked for advice. Unexpectedly, after a moment, Yan Que looked up and said, “To make Tiange Academy an ally of Shu Family Island, I have a plan to bring about this matter.”
“Oh? What is the plan?” Chu Yun asked, surprised.
A sharp glint flickered in Yan Que’s eyes. “It’s a method that allows Tiange Academy to maintain neutrality while still aiding Shu Family Island…”
After a period of hushed discussion, Chu Yun was overjoyed and couldn’t help but exclaim, “A good plan!”
According to Yan Que’s method, both sides could indeed be accommodated.
“Is this what the future ‘Calculating Perfection’ looks like? Truly a talented strategist,” Chu Yun couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. He hadn’t held much hope to begin with. But he hadn’t expected Yan Que to come up with such a brilliant solution after such a short period of thought.
It was a genuine surprise.
“With this, the biggest problem is solved. Now, we just have to wait for the Biluo Seaweed epidemic to fully erupt. Yan Que, you truly are full of wisdom and talent. I have not misjudged you.” Chu Yun laughed heartily, his tone invigorated.
Yan Que simply smiled faintly at the direct praise. “Speaking of strategies, in the end, it’s all about utilizing favorable circumstances. Tiange Academy’s neutrality has, over the years, become a powerful momentum. If the epidemic truly erupts, that will be another force. By borrowing these two forces, we can rise with the momentum, achieving twice the result with half the effort. At that time, no matter how unwilling people are in their hearts, human effort cannot resist the general trend, and they can only go with the flow.”
As he spoke, his blue robe stood straight, his demeanor calm and composed, his eyes shining with divine light. It was as if behind him lay surging ocean waves. His strategy was like riding these waves, and once the momentum was established, it would engulf all lesser beings. This formed his unique aura.
Chu Yun, however, understood the implied meaning behind Yan Que’s words and confidently stated, “Don’t worry. Regarding the outbreak of the epidemic, I trust my own judgment and am very confident. According to my estimate, in about a week, the entire Archipelago will be in great turmoil because of this.”
In his memories from his past life, it was seven days later that the epidemic spread, engulfing the entire Archipelago and causing massive market fluctuations.
However, to Chu Yun’s surprise, two days later, the entire Archipelago trembled. The Biluo Seaweed epidemic had broken out ahead of schedule!
Ning Family Island, Council of Elders.
The Ning Family Island Master’s face was grim. “How could this happen? The Biluo Seaweed epidemic is so fierce, and the sea salt production has completely halted. This will severely affect the market and cause significant losses to our Ning family’s interests!”
An elder sighed. “Every island in the Archipelago has salt fields. Sea salt production is mostly for self-sufficiency and self-sale. Now that sea salt production has stopped, the sea salt inventory on each island is also insufficient. The longer this epidemic drags on, the more likely riots will break out on various islands!”
The elders all nodded, their faces grave.
Sea salt is not a luxury item; it is a necessity for human life. If the basic needs of the islanders cannot be met, it is highly likely to cause riots.
“Island Master, this elder believes that market fluctuations and economic losses are secondary. The key is that our Ning Family Island’s sea salt reserves are also insufficient. Our Ning Family Island’s military strength is weak. If riots break out among the islanders, I’m afraid…” a seasoned elder said with great concern.
The Ning Family Island Master felt a chill run down his spine, cold sweat beading on his forehead. “This is indeed the case. Our Ning Family Island has always focused on business, and our military strength cannot be relied upon. I have decided: First, spare no expense to acquire sea salt from the market and stabilize the situation on Ning Family Island. Second, develop other sea salt extraction methods as a remedy. Third, issue a substantial reward to recruit Alchemists to refine effective pills for the epidemic!”
“Yes!” The elders responded in unison.
The Ning Family Island Master saw the solemn expressions on everyone’s faces and suddenly smiled. “Everyone, don’t bear too much psychological burden. We are in a bad situation, but there are others worse off than us. Shu Family Island developed a large number of salt fields some time ago and produced sea salt. At this time, the epidemic will hit Shu Tianhao the hardest!”
He paused, then raised his voice to inspire them. “Elders! Let us endure this difficult time. This is not only a test from heaven but also a great opportunity. More than half of Shu Family Island has already fallen into our grasp!”
“Hahaha, yes, how did I not think of that?”
“Shu Tianhao is ten thousand times worse off than us. Truly pitiful!”
“After hearing the Island Master speak, this old man’s confidence has been greatly boosted…”
The elders’ faces flushed, and their expressions became agitated. For a long time, they had coveted the resources of Shu Family Island. This epidemic was an excellent opportunity to annex Shu Family Island!
At this moment, everyone saw hope.
