Martial Cultivator

Chen Chao slightly mobilized the qi within his body, drying his clothes. Whatever secrets the world held were actually not that important. When all was said and done, it still came down to diligent cultivation. Once one’s realm was high enough and one’s fist was big enough, any secret could be known, and any scheme could be resolved with a single punch.

Thinking this, Chen Chao subconsciously reached to press his hand against the saber hilt at his waist, only to grasp empty air.

Only then did he remember that on this northern journey, in order not to draw attention, he had deliberately put away Cloud Mud. How could there be any saber at his side?

Chen Chao let out a self-mocking smile, withdrew his hand, and turned to leave this place.

The matters here were settled. Next, he would have to deal with another affair.

Once that affair was completely handled, he could return to the Divine Capital.

This time, upon returning to the Divine Capital, he could properly instruct his few disciples, and also take a good look at how many people at court were truly steadfast and devoted to their duties.

Of course, there were still many things he wanted to tell that younger brother of his, but the wording would have to be indirect, and indirect again.

......

......

A sea vessel, having been at sea for less than half a day, had already returned to the harbor.

After docking, several people disembarked from the ship, their expressions grim. Behind them was a frail young girl, holding a set of patched, repeatedly mended clothes that had been washed until they were pale.

At the port, a low-ranking official had actually been waiting all along to inspect the ship’s haul and calculate the maritime tax. Seeing this scene, he could not help but sigh inwardly.

He asked softly, “Did you run into rough seas?”

An elderly Dan boatman at the front replied quietly, “Bad luck. This time we’d only been out half a day. When we went down to gather pearls, we ran into a Sea Dragon King.”

Whether Dan people or fishermen, they all called large fish in the sea “Sea Dragon Kings.” Fishermen were somewhat better off, since they did not dive to gather pearls. Aside from storms, they rarely encountered large sea fish. But because Dan people had to go deep into the seabed to look for old clams, they often ran into large sea fish. Once they did, in nine cases out of ten, they would be swallowed whole by the large fishes in the sea.

This time, when they went out to sea, their luck was extremely bad. In a stretch of water where Sea Dragon Kings rarely appeared, they encountered one. Several Dan boatmen were immediately swallowed in a single gulp. Those who returned were the survivors.

The low-ranking official scratched his head and sighed repeatedly. As an imperial court’s maritime official, he had been stationed here for several years already and had no idea how many fishermen he had seen end up buried in the bellies of fish.

“Officer Yang, this trip out to sea yielded nothing at all. Could the outbound sea tax be... waived... or at least reduced a bit?”

The Dan boatman’s face was full of misery. According to the laws of the Great Liang Dynasty, once a vessel went out to sea, an outbound sea tax had to be collected. In truth, the amount was not large, but the problem was that they were already at the end of their rope.

They really could not scrape it together.

The low-ranking official gave a bitter smile. “The imperial court has its laws. How could it be something you and I get to decide?”

Hearing this, the Dan boatman at the front let out a bitter smile and was about to turn around and tell everyone to do their best to pool the money together. Before he could speak, however, the low-ranking official grabbed his arm and said softly, “No need. I’ll cover this money for you.”

After saying that, the low-ranking official pushed the Dan boatman slightly, signaling for him not to linger here. He still had many other matters to attend to.

In the distance, a black-robed young man who had left and then returned stood quietly in place, watching this scene without saying a word.

At his side, a voice suddenly sounded. “What is Lord Warden Commander thinking about?”

Chen Chao turned his head and discovered it was someone he had not expected to see here again.

A monk dressed in black.

Chen Chao glanced at him, a little surprised. “Master isn’t cultivating quietly in the ancient monastery anymore, but has begun wandering the mortal world?”

The black-robed monk smiled and said, “A low-ranking court clerk of the Great Liang Dynasty, even his monthly salary in the Divine Capital probably wouldn’t buy him many good meals. This so-called outbound sea tax is naturally even less. But matters like this were never meant to be measured in money.” ”If the court had more such low-ranking officials with kindness in their hearts, then this world and this age, no matter how difficult, would still have hope. On the contrary, even if the Great Liang Dynasty were already the largest sect under heaven, unmatched by any other, the world would still be in a terrible state.”

“It’s often said that governing a state is like cooking a small fish - it speaks of being careful and cautious, never rushing things. But this destitute monk believes that the word ‘small’ is also crucial. Many matters lie in the minute details, not in those so-called important affairs.”

The black-robed monk spoke with a smile, his tone unhurried.

Chen Chao frowned. “What does Master mean by this?”

“This destitute monk feels that Lord Warden Commander has done very well in great affairs. But human strength has its limits. Once Lord Warden Commander has handled the important affairs, you may not have the energy left for the minor ones. As for this humble monk, I understand not only important affairs a little, but also minor ones.”

The black-robed monk looked at Chen Chao, smiling with squinted eyes. “Since Lord Warden Commander is now the most powerful high minister of the Great Liang Dynasty, this destitute monk will take the liberty of asking Lord Warden Commander for an official post.”

Chen Chao was taken aback. After thinking for a long while, he finally said somewhat uncertainly, “Does Master truly wish to emulate that black-robed Nation Teacher and become the second Nation Teacher of the Great Liang Dynasty?”

Since the founding of the Great Liang Dynasty over two hundred years ago, there had been one and only one Nation Teacher - the black-robed monk who had accompanied the Great Liang Emperor in raising troops. But after that Nation Teacher passed away, the Great Liang Emperor never appointed another.

Now this monk, likewise dressed in black, looked as though he meant to become the second.

The black-robed monk smiled. “And why not?”

Chen Chao asked in surprise, “What does Deercry Monastery think?”

“Before coming to see Lord Warden Commander, this destitute monk had already settled that matter.”

The black-robed monk looked at Chen Chao.

Chen Chao grew curious and asked, “How did Master settle it?”

The black-robed monk thought for a moment and said, “Previously, this destitute monk’s dharma name was Hui Xuan.”

Chen Chao thought it over and understood, but he still said, “But... this official isn’t the emperor. I do not have the authority to appoint Master as Nation Teacher.”

The black-robed monk smiled. “A monk with no merits whatsoever can just say he wants to be Nation Teacher and become one? On what grounds? Just because he and the previous Nation Teacher both liked wearing black robes? It seems there is no such logic under the heavens.”

Chen Chao smiled. “Then it seems Master will have to start as a low-ranking official first.”

The black-robed monk smiled. “And why not?”

Chen Chao suddenly said, “At this moment, this official truly doesn’t feel that Master is the reincarnation of that Nation Teacher.”

The black-robed monk said nothing.

“This official still has a deal to negotiate. Master... would you be willing to come along?”

Hearing this, the black-robed monk merely raised his eyebrows, put his palms together, and said, “Naturally.”