Chapter 218: Chapter 107: Time Has Changed a Lot of Things

As the performance concluded, the door to Wang Ping’s private room was carefully pushed open, and a madam entered with five glamorous-looking women.

Wang Ping couldn’t be bothered with them. He used the Water Moon Bell’s illusion to entertain them while he sat quietly to the side, watching their faces twist within the Inspiration Realm and observing the irreparable marks on their destinies.

Yu Lian had even less interest in these women. She hid within the illusion, happily feasting on the grilled prawns from the table. Her verdict on the prawns was, "They’re tasty, but they lack the fresh flavor of shrimp."

Her words made Wang Ping recall a common saying from somewhere in his hometown, a phrase from his hazy memories. It caused the humanity within his divine soul to emanate unconsciously, more thoroughly suppressing the Wood Spirit’s mischievousness.

"It’s still more interesting to be out and about."

Yu Lian suggested, "Why don’t you move your cultivation over to Baisui Lake? It’s much more interesting there than on Qianmu Mountain."

Wang Ping didn’t answer Yu Lian. He could visit Baisui Lake occasionally to relax, but cultivating there meant easily becoming tainted by worldly influences, which was contrary to the Dao he practiced.

The novelty of the flower boat quickly wore off for Wang Ping. After they left, he suggested they visit the academy. There were currently two prevailing opinions there: one advocating for sending troops north to war, and the other, naturally, opposing it. However, the opposition was clearly losing ground, as the academy’s headmaster had changed his stance.

Wang Ping listened with great interest as the students debated, finding it all quite amusing. Although many of their arguments were empty boasts and rhetoric, they were the subconscious outpourings of their genuine passion.

’There’s nothing wrong with passion, even if it’s fleeting. It’s harmless. In the real world, most people spend their entire lives at the level of thought; only a few ever put their ideas into action. But it’s the influence of the majority that gives this minority the motivation to act.’

"Second Senior Brother’s Path of Worldly Life is, in some ways, even more formidable than yours," Yu Lian said in a low voice after they returned to the Mountain Peak Dojo. "I can faintly sense that he has siphoned off a portion of the world’s fortune."

Wang Ping frowned upon hearing this. "That’s not a good thing for Second Senior Brother."

Yu Lian smiled. "But you can’t control these things. With Second Senior Brother’s wisdom, he has surely thought of anything we can."

"True..."

The brief interlude soon ended, adding a bit of flavor to Wang Ping’s future cultivation path. In the time that followed, often at Yu Lian’s urging, he would occasionally visit Baisui Lake and Upper Yang Mountain for recreation.

「Jianwu 5th Year.」

The fusion of the Spirit Communication Talisman and Luck-Borrowing Talisman with Wang Ping’s divine soul reached 6/100. Guangxuan suddenly sent a letter, announcing he was entering death seclusion for thirty years to comprehend the method of advancing to the Second Realm. He entrusted all matters of Sanhe Temple to Liu Chang and Lin Chen, while also temporarily transferring the authority to organize gatherings to Yu Cheng Taoist.

Upon receiving the letter, Wang Ping made a special trip to Sanhe Temple to personally inscribe a Blessing Talisman for Guangxuan.

「Year’s end, during the Spring Festival.」

Wang Ping’s small courtyard was a little more deserted than in previous years.

In March, Wang Ping received a visit from a friend: Feng Miao. She had just completed her twenty-year post in the Southeast Islands.

Twenty years of dealing with people had made Feng Miao much more calm and composed. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"You haven’t changed much at all."

Feng Miao looked at Wang Ping with a hint of envy in her eyes. She took out a letter and said, "Fellow Daoist Xia Yao asked me to bring this to you."

"Why do you seem to have lost your spirit?" This question, of course, came from Yu Lian.

At her words, a smile Wang Ping recognized appeared on Feng Miao’s face. She then glanced toward the training grounds, where Shen Xiaozhu was instructing and supervising Wang Yang. "I just feel that there are too many things in this world that are beyond our meager ability to change," she said.

Her smile gradually turned bitter. "When I first started cultivating, I couldn’t stand injustice. I meddled in plenty of business that wasn’t mine, caused some trouble, and earned some merits. Back then, no matter how much trouble I got into, my master and senior brothers were always there to clean up my messes. But looking back now... Master has passed on, and my living martial siblings are all in death seclusion."

"If I cause trouble again now, I’m afraid I’ll have to pay the price with my own life." She looked at Wang Ping and took a deep breath. "Thinking about it now, my life has been truly uninteresting. I’ve come this far only to walk the same path my master and the others did... to go back and quietly enter death seclusion..."

At this, she gave a solemn bow with clasped hands. "If I successfully advance, I will definitely find you for a drink and a long talk."

Wang Ping nodded, patting the storage pouch at his waist. He took out a physically inscribed Talisman and said, "This Talisman will help you achieve your heart’s desire."

"Haha, thank you for your kindness, Fellow Daoist."

Feng Miao accepted the Talisman, chuckling at the phrase Wang Ping had used—"achieve your heart’s desire."

Once her laughter subsided, she took the Talisman and left without another word.

"Time is such a curious thing," Yu Lian mused. She rode a small cloud onto Wang Ping’s shoulder, then slid down to wrap around his arm.

Wang Ping silently opened the letter from Xia Yao.

The letter began with a long series of pleasantries, which wasn’t Xia Yao’s style. It was definitely from him, though. ’Time really does change people,’ Wang Ping thought.

After the formalities, Xia Yao stated clearly that the Xia Dynasty’s Imperial Family had decided to send troops to the north. He hoped Wang Ping would support this war effort.

"Fellow Daoist Xia Yao certainly thinks highly of me..."

Wang Ping muttered self-deprecatingly.

...

「The start of spring, Jianwu 7th Year.」

Wang Ping received an urgent report from his Second Senior Brother, Liu Zixiu: the new emperor was determined to go to war with the Northern Country. As agreed, Wang Ping then relayed the message via urgent report to Dan Chen Daoist.

Two months later, the Court issued conscription notices throughout the land, levying civilian laborers and Government Soldiers. The quota for Yongshan County was set at one thousand laborers and three hundred Government Soldiers.

’By that calculation, the number of laborers conscripted nationwide would be in the millions, and the Government Soldiers in the hundreds of thousands.’

The war had finally started!

Wang Ping thought of Xia Yao’s letter and mused, ’So the Imperial Family and Lishui Prefecture had this planned all along.’

On the third day after the notices were posted, news arrived from the Su Mansion: Su Hai had quietly and successfully merged with the Demon Soldiers. When Wang Ping heard this, he couldn’t help but picture Su Dun’s conflicted expression, and he laughed out loud.

「Three days later.」

Su Hai came to the Mountain Peak Dojo to see Wang Ping in person. He came for two reasons: first, to thank Wang Ping for his instruction and guidance, and second, to inform him that he would be following the Government Army north.

’This is human nature,’ Wang Ping thought. Even though Su Hai knew the true purpose of the war, the promise of supreme honor and immense profit had still swayed his decision.

The scene reminded Wang Ping of his Junior Brother Wang Kang. He nodded silently, accepting Su Hai’s decision.

Half a month after Su Hai left, Junior Brother Xingshan also came to Wang Ping’s Dao Field.

"The Wang Family has slipped from my control."

Xingshan said with some embarrassment, "But the overall plan remains unchanged. If it’s necessary in the future..."

"You need to advance your realm as soon as possible."

Wang Ping interrupted him.

"You are right, Senior Brother. I was just about to enter seclusion." With that, Xingshan bowed and departed. He also practiced the , and his family had collected the resources he needed for his advancement.