You Promised to Be an Idle Son-in-Law, How Could You Become a Land Immortal?

”...my skiff has already passed ten thousand mountains.

—Chen Qingzhou, 21st year of the Anhe era, the fifth day of the eighth month.”

Even before he signed his name, as the words of the poem took form,

Chen Yi’s Perfection Realm of Calligraphy Dao had already manifested.

Just like with his previous work, Farewell to Duke Changming in Shu State, a scene began to materialize above the words.

At first, a magnificent city with towering, pale gray walls appeared, standing atop a lofty mountain peak.

It was surrounded by radiant, colorful light and shrouded in mist. It was as if the first light of dawn after a storm had broken through the overcast clouds, bathing the city named ”Bai Di” in a splendid, multicolored glow.

Then, a man in a long, white robe appeared, riding a boat that cut through the waves of the river flowing at the mountain’s base.

The river surged, the sails billowed, and the boat carried the man swiftly forward.

As he passed between the mountains, the noisy and chaotic cries of monkeys echoed from both banks, yet they could not drown out the sound of the small boat slicing through the water.

Nor could they obscure the man’s singing.

But before anyone could make out what he was singing, the small boat had already passed through a thousand-mile stretch of mountains and was gliding across a placid river.

Faintly, within the Calligraphy Dao Realm, one could see the man’s appearance—he looked almost identical to Chen Yi.

After a long moment, Chen Yi returned to his senses. A small smile touched his lips as he looked at the Mental Realm floating above the Yunsong Paper.

His expression was one of indescribable ease and freedom.

”It seems I have my answer.”

”I’ll go. That’s all there is to it.”

As the hidden troublemaker behind the scenes, it would feel incomplete if he didn’t go see the results of the ”burning of the Three Towns’ summer grain.”

’It would probably be a regret,’ he thought.

With that, Chen Yi rolled up the sheet of Yunsong Paper, and the Mental Realm dissipated.

After tying the rolled Yunsong Paper with a red string, he glanced at a stack of scrolls on the side of his desk.

He counted them.

”A total of twenty-one calligraphy scrolls. This should be enough for the academy’s ’exhibition hall.’”

Chen Yi muttered to himself. He looked at the only piece written with his Perfect Calligraphy Dao, Post-rain Reflections, hesitated for a moment, then placed it on top of the stack.

He hadn’t originally planned to reveal that he had reached the Perfection Realm of Calligraphy Dao.

But just now, his mind had been preoccupied with the matter of the ”burning of the Three Towns’ summer grain,” and he had subconsciously written Post-rain Reflections.

’Since it happened by chance, it must be fate. I don’t need to deliberately hide the fact that my Calligraphy Dao has reached Perfection.’

”So what if it’s exposed?”

”The Hidden Guard wanted to see my calligraphy anyway.”

”Instead of letting them investigate and pass information in secret, I might as well display it openly myself.”

Having made his decision, Chen Yi felt a weight lift from his mind and body. He stood up and stretched.

Then, he called for Xiaodie.

As he cleaned up the ink, brushes, paper, and inkstone on his desk, he instructed, ”Tomorrow, go to Kangning Street and hire a mounting craftsman. Have him bring his tools and do the work here in the garden.”

Xiaodie looked at the stack of Yunsong Paper scrolls and nodded. ”Young Master, I’ll go first thing in the morning.”

Chen Yi grunted in acknowledgment. ”Remember to tell them the quantity and dimensions for the mounting, so they can come fully prepared. We don’t want any delays.”

Having the craftsman come to them was, one, to prevent the scrolls from being lost, and two, to prevent anyone from seeing their contents ahead of time.

After all, he wouldn’t have much free time in the coming days, nor would he be in the mood to write more scrolls.

Once everything was tidied up, Chen Yi took Xiao Wuge and Xiaodie to Jiaxing Garden for dinner.

By this time, Xiao Wan’er had already seen off all the day’s visitors and hadn’t kept anyone to stay for the evening meal.

It was quite peaceful.

During the meal, Xiao Wan’er naturally took out the booklet where she had jotted down notes about the Medical Dao Academy that morning, wanting to discuss some of her ideas with Chen Yi.

It was easy to see that she had put a lot of thought into it.

Every question she asked pertained to the finer details of the Medical Dao Academy.

For instance, ”compiling medical texts,” ”the types of Medical Skills to be taught,” and ”which Medical Saint Hand to invite.”

The first two weren’t difficult for Chen Yi. His Medical Dao had already reached Great Success, and he was a Saint Hand who possessed the most extensive and comprehensive Medical Skills within that realm.

Among those at the same realm, if he claimed to be second, no one could claim to be first.

His ability to diagnose and treat difficult and unusual illnesses, in particular, and his knowledge of obscure Medical Skills, were unmatched by any other Medical Saint Hand.

So,

Chen Yi gave a few simple pointers, just enough for Xiao Wan’er to get the general idea and ensure she didn’t stray in the wrong direction.

”As for which Medical Saint Hand to invite... why don’t we ask Ma Liangcai and the others later?”

Chen Yi didn’t trust bringing in outsiders.

It wasn’t that he thought their Medical Skills were lacking, but he was worried their intentions might not be pure. If they didn’t see eye to eye with Xiao Wan’er, it would inevitably cause problems.

”Ma Liangcai?”

Xiao Wan’er had a moment of realization. ”Oh, I’d forgotten. While Doctor Ma isn’t a Medical Saint Hand, his master should be.”

”The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching. I’ve had Cui’er prepare a small gift for him. When we invite him over tomorrow, he can take it back with him.”

Chen Yi nodded and said with a smile, ”That’s very thoughtful of you, Wan’er.”

’What has Old Ma done to deserve such a ’small gift’?’

’Hmm, looks like I’ll have to give Old Ma some more responsibilities.’

’It would be best to help him reach Minor Success, or even Great Success, in the Medical Dao. That way, he could properly oversee the Xiao Family Medicine Hall.’

’Otherwise, he won’t be worthy of the Mid-Autumn gift Xiao Wan’er is giving him.’

After they had finished their meal, Xiao Wan’er waited until the others had busied themselves before looking at Chen Yi and asking hesitantly,

”Do you... have anything to do tomorrow?”

Chen Yi looked at her. He could see she was a little nervous; beneath her cloak, he could make out the distinct outline of her hands clasped and fidgeting in front of her. He couldn’t help but smile.

”I shouldn’t have anything planned for tomorrow.”

”Do you have something for me, Wan’er?”

Xiao Wan’er met his gaze, then looked away a little unnaturally and shook her head slightly.

”Miss Liu from the Liu Family just sent an invitation. She wants to meet me at Fengchun Building tomorrow at noon.”

”I was thinking, if you’re free, you could... you could come with me.”

The smile on Chen Yi’s face faded slightly. ”Which Liu Family?” he asked.