Chapter 10: Human Affairs

koned, "Xiaoxiao, go prepare accommodations for the noble individuals from the Four Seas Merchant Alliance. Make the conditions as good as possible.""Mr. Jiang is too kind!" Qian, the steward, smiled...The second year of the Da Ding era.

Since Emperor Zhuang ascended the throne, there has been a noticeable change in the state of Zhuang.

Within the country, peace and prosperity reigned. The waterways were dredged, receiving full support from the Qingjiang Water Prefecture. The official roads were extensively repaired, seamlessly connecting all major cities and regions. As a result, those wandering rogue cultivators rarely chose Zhuang Guo as their base of operations.

While abroad, the strong conquest of ten cities in Mo State was almost like expanding another county for Zhuang State.

Emperor Kuang of Zhao did not immediately establish the fourth county.

It is said that some courtiers petitioned for this matter, but Zhuang Gaoen retorted during the court session: "Is a mere ten cities enough to be considered a county"

Ambition was evident.

The state of Mo was panicked and hastily sent a large sum of resources as bribes to the state of Qin. After receiving the support of the powerful Qin, its border finally calmed down.

More and more people in the country of Zhuang are realizing that the days when Zhuang was weak and vulnerable, easily trampled upon by others, are over!

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Today's State of Chu, it can be said that the whole country is thriving and prosperous.

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The three counties of the Zhuang Kingdom were Hua Lin County, where the capital city was located; Dai Shan County, which annexed ten newly acquired cities and became the largest county in Zhuang Kingdom.

Only Qinghe County seems to have remained unchanged.

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Throughout the entire Qinghe County, the most mysterious and most desirable place should be the Qingjiang Water Mansion.

In the Zhuang nation, humans and aquatic beings had an alliance that lasted for hundreds of years. They lived in harmony, of course, there were some minor frictions, but they did not affect the overall situation. Or rather, the overall situation was tightly controlled by those in high positions.

The legendary Qingjiang Shui Fu, with jade as its steps and gold as its bricks, adorned with pearls and filled with rare treasures, naturally draws the longing of ordinary people.

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But to say the place that truly makes people scramble and jostle, vying to become the dream destination for many a lifetime, it has to be Qinghe County's Imperial Academy.

Because this place represents the level of cultivation, status, and future.

However, the number of places offered by the Jun Dao Institute each year is extremely limited. With so many cultivators in the thirteen cities of Qinghe County, wouldn't everyone be vying to enter the institute with all their might In the end, only a few succeed.

Because Fenglin City has been lost, Qinghe County now only has twelve cities. However, the standards of the county academy have not been lowered, but the number of places has been proportionally reduced.

Therefore, it is not uncommon to see those who are down on their luck lingering outside the county government offices.

In the eyes of Liu Yao, a second-year student at the county academy, the young man standing before the gatehouse and gazing into the county academy should be one of them.

But he was a little different.

Liu Yao admitted that his features were quite good-looking, but what caught her attention was not his face. It was his eyes, gentle and serene, yet profound and mysterious. When he gazed at the County Daoist Academy, there was a faint glimmer of emotion in them.

Liu Yao couldn't tell, was that emotion regret or melancholy

But he was very charming.

>

This person has been appearing outside the Jun Dao Academy for the third day in a row. It's always in the afternoon, standing in the same spot, gazing into the Jun Dao Academy.

What is he looking at

Liu Yao didn't know.

But she suddenly felt a strong urge to go up and ask him.

This shouldn't be done. This is not right for Liu Yao.

Last year, she managed to squeeze into the Imperial Academy, holding onto one of the last few spots. The academy eliminates students every year, and she worked incredibly hard to keep her position and avoid being among those eliminated.

During her time at the City Dao Academy, she was among the top students and highly accomplished. However, at the County Dao Academy, where geniuses from all over gathered to compete, she faded into obscurity in a blink of an eye.

So she was never one to waste time. She was so careful that she even planned which route to take each day and how long it would take her, down to the minute.

However, she inexplicably stopped for three consecutive days because of a stranger.

The seeker should be true to their own heart. The dean seemed to have said this at some point in time.

When Liu Yao thought of this sentence, she let out a breath of relief. She had found a reason for herself.

Then she changed direction and walked outside, until she reached the young man who was standing quietly gazing out.

“Hello,” Liu Yao greeted.

The young man withdrew his gaze, looked at her, and said nothing. He only used his eyes to ask questions.

As a formal student of the County Dao Institute, Liu Yao was accustomed to flattery. At first, she worried that this young man was just like those vulgar people who fawned over her at the institute. But now that he remained so indifferent, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

She had never had such an experience of anxiety and uncertainty.

"Uh..."

Liu Yao opened her mouth, wanting to ask something, but hesitated for a moment. The words reached her lips, but she forgot what she wanted to ask.

She only just realized that she didn't actually have any problems. She was just looking for something to talk about.

“Is there anything” the young man asked proactively.

As if having completed the last gesture, the Daoist techniques naturally flowed.

Liu Yao's thoughts cleared up at once.

She said, "You stand here every day, it's pointless. There will be no sympathy, no favoritism. The Jun Dao Institute won't accept disciples for any reason other than strength."

"I've been there," she advised, "A momentary setback means nothing. The Jun Dao Academy has slots every year. You should seize the time to cultivate diligently, advance an inch, and you will have a grasp of advancing an inch."

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She hesitated for a moment, then spoke: "I'm a second-year student at the county academy. If you have any questions about cultivation, feel free to ask me."

>

This sentence was too obvious, almost making her blush. She forcefully used Tao Yuan's control to calm down her wildly beating heart.

The young man listened quietly as she finished speaking, then replied, "It's okay."

His voice was gentle, with a slow and steady calmness and tenderness.

"I was just taking a look," he said.

She didn't show any displeasure at her audacity, nor did she appear closer because of her kindness.

How was it before, how is it now.

He seemed as if he wouldn't change for anyone, or anything.

“Oh.” Liu Yao was taken aback for a moment: “Oh, okay.”

But what exactly was good, she didn't know.

The young man seemed about to continue gazing out, but she was still there. So he paused, and looked at her again.

That look was about—Do you have anything else

Liu Yao seemed to have woken up from a dream, suddenly reacting.

"Oh, I, I'll be going first."

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“Goodbye.” The young man politely nodded slightly.

Liu Yao hurried toward the courtyard, but after two steps, she bit her lip and turned back: “By the way, I don’t even know your name”

To show her sincerity, she first introduced herself: "My name is Liu Yao. The 'Yao' in Mutao Qiong Yao."

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At that time, the young man's gaze had shifted to a new horizon.

In the setting sun, from this angle, there's a kind of indescribable aloofness to him.

At this moment, Liu Yao felt as if he were disconnected from the entire world.

Such a person shouldn't care too much about the gains and losses of Jun Dao Institute, right So what is he looking at

Time seemed to crawl by. Liu Yao's thoughts raced, coming and going in a whirlwind. For a few fleeting moments, she thought she wouldn't get an answer.

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But finally, I endured the short yet exceptionally long silence.

She waited for the young man's reply.

“Good tidings,” he said.

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Ps: The Operations Team has launched a character ascension activity. Everyone can participate by replying to the latest highlights post in the book review section. Participating in character ascension will grant you starting point coin rewards. Specific rules are listed in the post. Because of changes to Qidian's rules, only books with one star or more will be eligible for activities in the future. So... this might be the last time this book participates in an activity. I hope everyone will actively participate! Please choose our Jiang Wang!

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!ld become the pacifier, with his strength and the energy of the Chong Xuan family, after a few years of pacification, the position of county magistrate would definitely be within reach.This places him...