Zhao Qing’s news stunned everyone present, but their shock quickly turned to delight.

Their minds instinctively raced with the possibilities. Take Shang’an Prefecture, for example. The Prefect was appointed by the Court, but they could create a dozen or so Deputy Governor positions to divide the spoils. Then there were the Assistant Governors, and so on, all the way down to the county level...

At this thought, everyone looked as if they’d been injected with adrenaline. They exchanged glances, and their gazes finally settled on a middle-aged man in a patterned green brocade robe.

This man was Liu Lin, Liu Shuang’s younger brother. Relying on Liu Shuang’s influence, the Liu Family had become the most powerful family in Ancheng County and held considerable sway throughout Shang’an Prefecture.

However, before Liu Lin could speak, Zhao Qing’s gaze swept over his own kinsmen. He then looked toward Wang Ping and Liu Zixiu, who were seated at the head of the room, and postured as if to speak. The others naturally knew to keep quiet.

"There are a few things I need to make clear from the start..."

Zhao Qing surveyed everyone present. "I know what you’re all thinking right now. You, for instance, Master Yang. Are you already plotting how to annex land and evade taxes? I don’t care what you’re thinking, but let me say this: Qianmu Temple has a bond with the people of Shang’an Prefecture, born of their worship. That bond is more important than my friendship with any of you. Tax evasion is out of the question. We will still calculate taxes according to the Court’s measurement laws. Twenty percent of the collected taxes will go to the local Government Office for expenses, thirty percent will be submitted to the Court, and the rest will be used for Shang’an Prefecture’s... civil administration."

His final mention of "civil administration" was really a euphemism for everyone splitting the remainder, though it couldn’t be said so openly. Of course, if there were any large public expenditures, the families would need to raise the funds together.

"One last thing. Don’t think you can pull the wool over our eyes, especially when it comes to measuring the fields. One of our disciples only needs a single glance at your land to get a result that would take you a full day to calculate."

Having said his piece, Zhao Qing picked up the teacup beside him, looked around at the crowd again, and said, "If you understand, then drink your tea."

The moment he finished speaking, Liu Lin of the Liu Family from Ancheng County stood up, raised his teacup, and said, "Daoist Changqing, Mr. Liu, Dean Zhao, your righteousness is profound. We are certainly not villains who would prey on the common folk."

After this declaration of intent, the formal division of spoils began. Wang Ping and Liu Zixiu merely observed the entire process. It was precisely their presence that kept the family representatives from getting too aggressive. They accepted amenable proposals without another word and calmly negotiated the terms of those they couldn’t.

And so, such a complex negotiation concluded in less than two hours, just as the sky began to dim.

As Zhao Qing invited the guests to a banquet, Wang Ping didn’t join the festivities. Liu Zixiu, however, stayed behind; his chosen path was to cultivate amidst the mortal world. The only one who returned with Wang Ping to the Mountain Peak Dojo was Yu Lian. Liu Shuang, Liu Ling, Zhao Yu’Er, and Su Sea all had friends and family to entertain.

...

「In the blink of an eye, three years passed.」

During these three years, the Southern Territory regained its vitality, and the Rebel Army in the Northwest was completely crushed. The only event of major note was the internal strife between the monks of two temples in the western Snowfield of Zhongzhou a year ago.

That morning, Wang Ping finished calibrating his new puppet, preparing to use it to refine Power Pills. This was the third puppet he had calibrated. He had already delegated the refining of Power Pills to ordinary puppets. Although the failure rate was as high as forty percent, the ingredients for the pills were cheap to begin with.

Meanwhile, Zi Hong, who had reached Foundation Establishment, had been sent out to gain experience and, incidentally, to farm redemption points for Wang Ping at the Daoist Scripture Hall.

Once the new puppet had memorized its basic instructions, Wang Ping left the Alchemy Room, satisfied. He had just returned to his small courtyard when he saw a young gate-keeping disciple approaching cautiously.

"What is it?"

"Martial Uncle Yang is outside asking to see you."

The "Martial Uncle Yang" the disciple mentioned was Yang Hou, Zhao Qing’s apprentice. Two years ago, he had formally taken over the position of Inner Courtyard Director. Like Zhao Qing, he handled minor matters himself, but for major issues or intelligence concerning the situation in Zhongzhou, he would immediately come to the Mountain Peak Dojo to report.

"Let him in."

Yang Hou was much more reserved than his master. Upon entering the courtyard, he first bowed to Wang Ping, then to Yu Lian on the eaves, before standing properly about ten feet away from Wang Ping to give his report.

"There’s a Fox Demon at the foot of the mountain who is registered with the Daoist Scripture Hall. She says she has an urgent matter and wishes to see you, Martial Senior."

"Oh?"

’Fox Demons registered with the Daoist Scripture Hall are generally neutral. They also have to have a certain level of cultivation. The most basic requirement is to have absorbed the essence of the sun and moon for over a century and laid a solid foundation, making them ready to condense an Inner Core at any moment.’

"Have her brought up..."

Wang Ping decided to see her. After addressing Yang Hou, he looked at Yu Lian. "Yu Lian, go take a look."

Yu Lian opened her eyes and flew into the air. Before Yang Hou had even left the courtyard, she landed back on Wang Ping’s shoulder and said, "It’s a White Fox Demon, a female one. Her aura is very peaceful. Part of her aura is similar to Xuanhe’s from Mozhou Road a few years ago."

"Xuanhe? An Earth Vein aura? Demons cultivate Spirit Veins, too?"

"No, the aura is just similar. She must have some kind of treasure related to an Earth Vein on her." As Yu Lian spoke, she used her tail to poke at a Puppet Bird on the stone table. It was a little gadget Wang Ping had developed in his spare time, which he normally used to contact Zi Hong in the outside world.

Hearing Yu Lian’s words, Wang Ping grew curious, eager to learn the Fox Demon’s purpose for coming.

The path from the base of the mountain to the peak was not short. Furthermore, to show respect, the Fox Demon couldn’t use her demonic energy to speed her ascent. By the time Yang Hou went down the mountain to give the reply and the Fox Demon made her way up, nearly two hours had passed.

The Fox Demon was dressed in the loose, blue Daoist robe of a Kun Cultivator and wore a veiled conical hat. Upon being led into the courtyard by the young disciple, she immediately removed the hat, revealing a pure white fox head. Her blue eyes with their black pupils were especially beautiful.

"This little demon, Hu Qianqian, greets Daoist Changqing."

The White Fox performed a proper Daoist salute. She showed none of the violent aura typical of the Demon Race; instead, she exuded a comfortable, approachable feeling. This was perhaps because white foxes had originally been pets tamed by nobility.

"Have a seat." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"I wouldn’t dare. This little demon can speak while standing." Hu Qianqian spoke with great reverence, like a third-generation or younger disciple of Qianmu Temple addressing Wang Ping.

"I recall the records in the Daoist Scripture Hall stating that your White Fox Race lives mostly in the Snowfield. Why have you come to the Southern Territory, where the climate is the complete opposite?" Wang Ping voiced his first question.

"For the past century, those bald-headed don—" Hu Qianqian almost let her true feelings slip. She cleared her throat twice, feigning composure, and continued.

"The Cultivation Realm in the Snowfield has been in too much turmoil lately. The White Fox Race had no choice but to migrate. Some went north, others overseas. I followed a merchant caravan all the way to Jinhuai City, and I find it very nice here. I wish to find a Dao Field to settle down in peace."

Normally, after a statement like that, Wang Ping’s next question would have been about what piece of treasured land she had found. But after a moment of thought, Wang Ping instead asked, "What exactly is this conflict over doctrinal succession in Snowfield Buddhism all about?"

Hu Qianqian was taken aback for a moment before answering honestly, "This little demon’s cultivation is still shallow, so I don’t know the inside story. I did once personally witness two... eminent monks sitting and debating the Dao, but I couldn’t understand a single word."

Wang Ping nodded. After a brief exchange with Yu Lian in his Spirit Sea, he asked, "And which piece of land have you set your eyes on?"