Chapter Eighty-Nine: Blood Seen, Blade Unseen

He Ru remained silent. With such an obvious matter, Xu You did not actually need an answer.

"This is raising someone up to ruin them!" Xu You said coldly. "You've read the *Customs of Fengsu*, haven't you? There is a passage in it: 'The senior official's horse is fat, and the onlookers rejoice. The rider is pleased by their praise and gallops endlessly until he dies.' I am now that horseman riding to his doom!"

He paced back and forth a few times, stopped in front of the window, looked at the distant mountain ranges, and frowned, saying, "Zhang Mo has no enmity or grudge against me. Why does he wish to put me to death?"

Lü Shuang hesitated for a moment and said, "It is much like Ban Gu and Fu Yi, whose literary talents were comparable, yet Ban Gu often looked down upon him. Literary figures have always belittled one another since ancient times. Although the young master had an exchange with Zhang Mo discussing poetry by the river, some matters still must be guarded against!" She quoted Cao Pi's classic conclusion from *On Literature*, implying that Zhang Mo was jealous of Xu You's literary talent and therefore deliberately elevated him to a high position to provoke public resentment and bring about his downfall.

He Ru also said, "Lü Shuang is right! Literati killings have always been done without a trace of blood. Seventh Young Master must be on guard against the despicable tactics of such petty villains!"

Xu You frowned for a long time. The empty and tranquil night on the river seemed not long ago, and Zhang Mo's hearty laughter was still echoing in his ears. He shook his wayward thoughts and said, "Zhang Mo cannot be that narrow-minded. With the great reputation of the Five-Colored Luan, why would he deal such a ruthless blow to an insignificant nobody like me?"

"Zhang Mo's literary fame shines throughout the southeast, and it is said he possesses an unyielding backbone with the demeanor of a gentleman. Yet such people are often superficial and impractical. Once they encounter a formidable opponent, their true colors are immediately revealed, making them far more ferocious and terrifying than petty villains." Having walked between light and shadow for many years, He Ru observed the world and human hearts through the Four Phases of the Secret Talisman. He had seen too many hypocrites with human faces and beastly hearts, so he did not find this strange at all. "With Zhang Buyi's talent, he can naturally see that Seventh Young Master's West Lake poems set the trend of an era, and future achievements will surely far surpass his own. Therefore, he decided to strike first and use a trick to nip your prospects in the bud before you even became famous."

His gaze flashed sharply, making people dare not meet his eyes. His voice was low yet every word carried weight as he said, "This scheme has two purposes: First, if you are a smart person and see that the momentum is wrong, you will probably not dare to publicly admit that the poem was written by you. This way, without having to fight, he subdues the enemy. For Zhang Mo, this is the best strategy. Second, if you are foolish enough to jump out and claim authorship, you will be jointly attacked by the scholars and literati of Jiangdong. As for your fate, it goes without saying. Furthermore, no matter what choice you make, Zhang Mo can sit back and reap the spoils. This person's intentions are sinister; he is truly an extraordinary figure."

He Ru firmly believed that human nature is inherently evil, so his perspective often skewed toward the dark side—and specifically, the darkest side of it. Xu You sighed and said, "Very well! These West Lake poems were not meant to bring me fame, but rather served as a direct arrow against the Celestial Master Dao. No matter how foolish I am, I will not step forward to claim them and become the proverbial bird that sticks out and gets shot. However, being able to see Zhang Mo's true face through this matter can be considered to outweigh the disadvantages. It's just... alas, what a pity!"

Although Zhang Mo's desperate promotion brought Xu You some potential minor troubles, it was rare and positive publicity for *The Legend of the White Snake*. At this time, mass communication media were extremely scarce. Whether it was poetry, songs, flowers, grass, insects, or fish, once reviewed by a celebrity, its value would instantly soar a hundredfold.

Compared to later generations, the power of this discursive authority was truly crazy and formidable!

As soon as the Five-Colored Luan spoke, the effect was immediate. Li Xianji, the premier courtesan of Jiangdong, performed "After the Rain on Qiantang Lake" for the first time at the Xiyuan Elegant Gathering hosted by the Grand Administrator of Yangzhou. A crowd of famous scholars, including top talents like Lu Xu and Tan Qian, composed poems to match it one by one. Within seven days, it spread throughout the empire until everyone knew of it.

In addition, when the Grand Administrator of Yangzhou was asked whether "After the Rain on Qiantang Lake" was an endorsement of *The Legend of the White Snake*, he personally praised that *The Legend of the White Snake* depicted mortals and demons with piercing insight, and portrayed love and resentment with marrow-deep emotion. It broke away from the rough outlines of the strange-tales books since the Qin and Han dynasties, featuring elegant and refined phrasing, a winding plot, and a complete ending. It could be called the pinnacle of its genre, shining brilliantly alongside "After the Rain on Qiantang Lake," each with its own merits.

The status of the Grand Administrator was naturally countless times higher than that of Zhang Mo. After these words spread, not only did the common folk spark a craze for gathering to listen to *The Legend of the White Snake*, but even the pure and noble aristocratic clans began to spend heavy sums inviting storytellers to their residences to perform and add to the festivities. For a time, the entire Jiangdong reached a point where people could not converse without mentioning the White Snake, and everyone discussed Xu Xian. To put it bluntly, if you met someone and couldn't recount a plot or two from *The Legend of the White Snake*, you would be too embarrassed to greet them.

As the plot progressed—from initially following Bai Suzhen's perspective to slay demons, vanquish devils, and protect the local populace, to later being filled with righteous fury at the shameless actions of the Daoist priest Qingjian who broke up a loving couple—the focus of public discussion shifted from applause and cheers to fiercely cursing the Daoist priests of White Deer Guan, and even secretly whispering about the faults of the Celestial Master Dao. In the past, given the lofty status of the Celestial Master Dao, who would have dared to harbor such thoughts?

Just as a thousand-li embankment can be destroyed by an ant colony, under Xu You's instigation, human hearts surged like a vast flood, beginning to break through the long-standing shackles of faith. More people began to tentatively examine and reflect upon the meaning represented by the Celestial Master Dao from broader angles and directions.

Even though such examination and reflection were extremely naive and superficial, only with examination could there be reflection, and only with active thinking after reflection could there be progress!

Naturally, with a century of lingering prestige and vast resources, the Celestial Master Dao would not be easily destroyed overnight. However, Du Jingzhi was different. After all, he was merely a Libationer of the Yangzhou Circuit; he was not Celestial Master Sun Guan, nor could he represent the entire Celestial Master Dao. Questions and distrust regarding his personal character quietly grew larger like a snowball, carrying an overwhelming and unstoppable momentum.

When the article from Yuanyang Jinglu came out, this distrust intensified further. Although no one dared to voice it publicly yet, the street gossip had already merged Du Jingzhi and the Daoist priest Qingjian into one person. When Xi Yuanda initially received reports from his subordinates, he did not take this public opinion trend to heart. He felt he understood the situation well enough: Du Jingzhi held a high and powerful position, and countless people secretly slandered him, wishing to pull him down from his horse and trample him fiercely. Even within the Celestial Master Dao, many people were eyeing him like tigers eyeing their prey, wanting to take his place. For a Grand Libationer residing in the bustling pleasure quarters of Yangzhou to attract some criticism was completely normal.

Most importantly, his energy was entirely bogged down by the affairs of the Zhan family. Zhan Wenjun's sudden division of the family completely disrupted their plans, leaving him somewhat at a loss for a moment. After snapping out of it, they issued an official document from the Inspector's Office to the Qiantang County Yamen, but they did not expect that scoundrel Gu Yuan to dare ignore Liu Quan's decree. While Gu Yuan spoke fine words about thoroughly investigating and handling the matter impartially, he actually procrastinated and stalled, finding all sorts of excuses not to send yamen runners to seal up the Zhan family properties. Although Xi Yuanda reported this situation upward again, Gu Yuan's backers were too powerful, and the Inspector's Office was unwilling to offend him excessively—especially since their objective had already been achieved. Guo Mian was trapped like a turtle in a jar and imprisoned, so they were no longer as concerned with the affairs of the Celestial Master Dao. They simply sent word to Du Jingzhi, telling him to instruct those sent to Qiantang to act cautiously, slowly look for opportunities, and avoid taking risks to prevent the situation from becoming unmanageable.

Du Jingzhi relayed these words to Xi Yuanda, which so infuriated him that he smashed objects in his room and stood pointing at Zhan Ting, cursing him bitterly for a full half-hour. Zhan Ting came from humble origins, but after being adopted by the Zhan family, he had been treated very well. Having never suffered such humiliation before, he was so angry he almost fainted on the spot. Yet now, isolated from the Zhan family like a rootless duckweed without a place to settle down, his only reliance for the future was the Celestial Master Dao. With his poverty clipping his ambitions, how could he dare offend Xi Yuanda? Forget a few curses, even if he were truly whipped across the back, he could only grit his teeth and endure it.

It was also at this moment that he suddenly recalled the words Zhan Wenjun had spoken back then: "In this world, the only thing worthy of your trust is your family!"

Yet matters had reached this stage; where could one buy medicine of regret? He could only walk down this single path to the dark end. Thinking about it carefully, it was truly pathetic.

Feeling stifled staying in Zhibin Pavilion, Xi Yuanda went out alone to clear his head and walked to the shores of Qiantang Lake. The calm lake water was like a mirror, shimmering with golden light under the sunlight. The low weeping willows swayed gently in the wind, their slender branches closely resembling the waist of a woman walking not far away, bound by a silk ribbon. As he gazed into the distance, two men walked past him from behind. One of them said in a low voice, "It's been called Qiantang Lake for all these years, but now those scholars want to rename it West Lake. Tell me, this lake is to the east of Qiantang, so how can it be called West Lake?"

During the Six Dynasties, the scale of Qiantang County was not large, and the main buildings of the city were mostly located to the west of Qiantang Lake. Later, through the economic and population development of the Sui and Tang dynasties, the main urban area was gradually expanded to the east of Qiantang Lake. It was also from that time onward that Qiantang Lake acquired the name West Lake.

The other man said, "Actually, renaming it is fine too. Haven't you heard? Those West Lake poems—created by goodness knows who—have already gained fame throughout Jiangzuo. Famous scholars like Zhang Mo from Zhuji, He Jie from Yuyao, and Lu Xu from Huating have all praised them in unison, and even our Yangzhou Grand Administrator has given high praise. If the name is truly changed, we Qiantang people will also share in the glory, won't we? Heh, I have a distant relative who works as an official in Wu County and once went to Qingle Pavilion to listen to Li Xianji sing the West Lake poetry. When he came back, he couldn't eat or drink for days, with the charming voice of the beauty echoing in his ears. It was unimaginably moving..."

"That's true! Say, I heard that the people of Zhuji are the most enthusiastic about the name change, especially that Zhang Mo. Guess why?"

"Why?"

"Isn't it because there's a line in the poem, how did it go? It's on the tip of my tongue, but I can't remember..."

"To compare the West Lake to Xizi!"

"Right, right, that's the line! Xi Shi is from Zhuji, after all. Comparing Qiantang Lake to Xi Shi really gives them in Zhuji a lot of face!"

As the two chatted, they arrived near Xi Yuanda. Perhaps noticing his unpleasant expression, they moved a dozen meters away and, making sure their conversation could not be heard, continued chatting with great interest.

"Doesn't *The Legend of the White Snake* say that Bai Suzhen was suppressed in the Yuanyang Jinglu by the West Lake? I've wandered around it dozens of times these past few days, so why couldn't find it?"

"You're the only fool! Haven't you heard what Scholar Liu said? *The Legend of the White Snake* uses ghosts and deities as a metaphor to satirize the present. The Yuanyang Jinglu definitely won't be called by that real name!"

"How could it not? What does the unofficial biography of the Yuanyang Jinglu say? This Yuanyang Lodge is the Jinglu of the Primordial Perfected Immortal; how could it be fake? Scholar Liu has only studied for a few days and hasn't even been summoned by the imperial court—he's just a counterfeit scholar. His words cannot be trusted, absolutely not!"

"You, you don't even know how to read characters, and you can't even understand storytelling!" That man turned his head to look at Xi Yuanda, and seeing that he had no reaction, said in a quiet voice, "The unofficial biography says that the Yuanyang Lodge was occupied by the evil villains of the Celestial Master Dao and turned into their private residence. Every day they commit ungodly acts of plundering young boys and girls to nourish their essence. How could they still have the nerve to use the name of the Primordial Perfected Immortal's Jinglu?"

"Well, aren't you an old dog? Why are you contradicting me today?" The other man laughed and scolded, "Still, everything you said makes sense! If it were me, feeling ashamed of the ancestors of the celestial dao, I wouldn't have the nerve either!"

"Who's saying otherwise? It's just a pity that Celestial Master Sun is far away on Mount Heming and knows little about the affairs in Yangzhou; otherwise, he wouldn't let villains run amok, bully the good, and ruin the ten-thousand-year blessed enterprise of the Celestial Master Dao..."

"Alas, I just wonder who this villain is. Otherwise, I'd definitely go and report him to Mount Heming!"

"The day before yesterday in the East Market, I happened to hear someone mention that the Daoist priest Qingjian in *The Legend of the White Snake* is actually Libationer Du. As for this villain, heh... better not say it, better not say it!"

"Impudent!"

The two men were stunned simultaneously. Xi Yuanda did not know when he had appeared behind them, his face dark green, his cold gaze as palpable as substance, making people shudder with chill.

"Who instigated the two of you to slander Libationer Du?" Xi Yuanda reached out and pressed down on their shoulders, saying, "How exalted is the Three Wu Dao? You pig-and-dog-like fools dare to discuss him behind his backs?"

A sharp pain struck their shoulders, and their legs went limp as they collapsed to the ground. Scared out of their wits and losing their souls, they kowtowed and begged for mercy: "We won't dare again, we won't dare again. We'll never dare again! Please, young master, show mercy and spare us this once..."

"Spare you?"

A cruel look flashed across Xi Yuanda's eyes. He swept his hand across the tops of their heads, and a dark, forceful energy burst from his palms. The two immediately passed out. He hoisted one man under each arm and left swiftly.

In the underground secret room of Zhibin Pavilion, two bowls of cold water were dashed onto their faces, waking the two men simultaneously. Their hands and feet were bound to iron racks. The surrounding lamplight was dim and eerie. Looking at Xi Yuanda, who appeared like a demon before them, they nearly pissed and shrieked in terror as wailing instantly filled the room.

"I can spare you, but I will only spare one. Whoever confesses the ins and outs of this matter first will be spared. As for the fate of the other," Xi Yuanda smiled in a way that looked uglier than crying, bringing a blade down to hack against the iron rack with a deafening, clanging ring, "Death!"

"I'll talk! I'll talk!"

"Let me speak first, young master, let me speak first..."

Xi Yuanda was very satisfied; he loved watching the pitiful appearance of others begging and struggling. He pointed a finger and said, "Good, you speak!"

The man who was chosen was instantly overjoyed beyond measure, while the other looked like a mourning ghost, rolled his eyes, and fainted once again.

"I heard it from Scholar Liu on West Street—no, Liu Mingyi. He, he said that the Daoist priest Qingjian in *The Legend of the White Snake* is Libationer Du, and then he said, he also said..."

"What else did he say?"

"This little one doesn't dare to say!"

"Speak! If you don't, I'll cut out your tongue first!"

"He... he also said that Libationer Du privately abducted many women from good families to use as cauldrons for practicing dual cultivation. On Linwu Mountain, bones are already piled high and corpses litter the ground..."

"Hateful! Hateful! Hateful!"

With his eyes splitting at the corners, Xi Yuanda raised his blade and brought it down. A head flew into the air, and blood spurted upwards to a height of over a foot. The man who had just fainted regained consciousness groggily, happened to witness this scene, let out a miserable scream, and passed out completely, losing all consciousness.

"Come here!"

Two Five-Hundred-Talisman Generals of the Celestial Master Dao appeared in response. With his face covered in blood and looking as ferocious as a night-owl, Xi Yuanda bit out every single word: "Go to West Street and bring Liu Mingyi back! Also, dispatch all men stationed in Qiantang to investigate the external rumors and see if public opinion is truly this unfavorable to Master!"

"Understood!"