Chapter 10

“Are you a person of Qing Wangye? My apologies, Gongzi. I'm truly sorry."

After Ning Shiting went out, the previously clear sky showed signs of becoming overcast. 

The wind picked up, and dark clouds gathered overhead. 

Passersby on the roadside occasionally discussed, "Although it's early autumn, it looks like it might snow. Haven't they caught the snow yao that's been causing trouble lately?" 

"Zé, it's really cold.(1) Better go back and put on more clothes. I guess they haven't caught it. The snow yao is ferocious and unpredictable, even harder to deal with than a Taotie. Who dares to catch it?" 

"Why hasn't anyone reported this to the Immortal Chief?" 

"Haīya, what's the use of reporting it to the Immortal Chief? You know our Su Immortal Chief, he's always like that, never really implementing any effective measures. When it comes to tough situations, he just muddles through. Reporting the snow yao issue would probably result in advice to be mindful of the weather, put on more clothes when it snows, and not let it interfere with cultivation." 

"That's true, there's nothing we can do. But speaking of taking charge... isn't there someone now in Qing Wang's mansion?" 

"Ah, that's even more unreliable. They've been in Xizhou for so many days without making a move. Qing Wang has a son who used to have a celestial spiritual root, but now he's completely disabled and kept in the manor. That Ning Gongzi probably can't even handle household affairs, let alone matters of Xianzhou."

Ning Shiting walked alone, wearing a veiled hat that covered his face, strolling as usual with ease. 

He had never been to Xizhou before, so he could only walk for a while, stop for a while, occasionally ask someone for directions, and finally found a street with shops selling spices and medicinal herbs. 

Xianzhou was abundant with medicinal cultivators, occasionally including those who practised poison and medicine while hiding their identities. 

In the Immortal and Ghost markets of Jiuzhou, the scariest items in circulation were never concealed weapons or magical tools, but rather various kinds of formidable and insidious poisons that defied prevention. The people frequenting the spice and herb shops were among the most complex and secretive.

"I'll take one catty each of Dragon Lobster Spine, Underworld Cave Grass, Carriage Horse Mushroom, Dragon Grass, Nine Ear Wheat, Red Jade Grass, and Emperor's Rest, all divided into my storage ring. Do you have Qilin Vine?"(2) 

Ning Shiting named rare medicinal herbs and spices, which came at a hefty price. 

The shop owner, seeing his luxurious attire and distinguished bearing, immediately became cheerful and called over all the assistants in the shop, instructing them to stop whatever they were doing and assist Ning Shiting in packing his goods.

Although the owner ran a shop selling medicinal herbs, he had the look of a butcher, with a face full of tough flesh.

Rubbing his hands together, he said, "This Gongzi, sir, we have everything you've asked for, but the Qilin Vine is extremely rare. Even here, we might not get a single plant in a month. If you're in a hurry, you might want to walk further inside the market. The innermost pharmacy there usually sends herbs directly to the Immortal Chief's mansion and has many connections. You might find it there. You can go and take a look." 

"Understood, many thanks."

Ning Shiting reached out and retrieved his storage ring, casually pushing over a box of spirit stones.

The shopkeeper opened the box and immediately recognised that Ning Shiting had given him a treasure among treasures—a rare top-grade spiritual stone from Jiuzhou. He weighed the box and, with great tact, returned half of the payment to Ning Shiting.

"Gongzi must be new to Xizhou, right? I've never seen a distinguished customer like Gongzi before. I will not lie, in this Xizhou, one gets used to the regulars, but when a new distinguished guest arrives, I can always tell. You are generous with your spending, and while we don't usually haggle over money, consider this a gift from me today. If you ever need medicine or incense again in the future, just remember our little shop."

Ning Shiting didn't refuse. He tucked away the remaining half of the spiritual stones and lifted his veil to glance at the shopkeeper.

"Then in the future, I'll rely on your care. For our family's spices and medicinal herbs, you can deliver them directly to the mansion. We'll pay you forty per cent above the market price, as long as you keep an eye out for rare materials for us."

With a glance that left an indelible impression, Ning Shiting swiftly hid his black and azure eyes under the veil, but those who saw them couldn't shake off the sight for a long time.

After a while, the shopkeeper stuttered back to reality and asked, "Gongzi, may I... may I ask which family you belong to? So we can attend to your affairs in the future?"

Ning Shiting extended his hand, turned his wrist, and displayed a small jade token to him.

The token was small and delicate, but anyone knowledgeable could see that it was Kunwu jade, exclusive to the seat of the Immortal Emperor, capable of resonating with a dragon's roar when flicked with the hand.

Engraved on it was the character "Qing." 

“Are you a person of Qing Wangye? My apologies, Gongzi. I'm truly sorry."

The proprietor of the medicinal shop trembled the moment he saw the jade token, about to kneel down in panic, but Ning Shiting gently stopped him with a raised hand.

"I’m not from the Qing Wang's side."

The young man spoke softly, "I am acting on behalf of the Shizi to handle affairs for the royal family."

The Shizi?

Rumours had it that Qing Wang's Shizi, Gu Tingshuang, had long been deprived of his spiritual roots, languishing in obscurity for four years, unseen by the world.

Before the proprietor could continue questioning, he saw the young man had vanished without a trace, as if suddenly disappearing into the wind.

As Ning Shiting stepped outside, it was already quite cold, a harbinger of heavy snow to come.

People in the marketplace hurriedly rushed back due to the sudden drop in temperature.

With the appearance of the snow yao and the reversal of seasons, some vendors selling ice and cold food were already cursing.

The inconspicuous pharmacy at the far end of the street had a narrow and dilapidated storefront, but stepping inside revealed another world entirely.

A small medicinal shop, as vast as half a nobleman's mansion, with an endless interior. Beside the entrance, a small plaque hung with a couplet: May people in this world be free from illness, rather than medicines gathering dust on shelves.

Several medicine boys guarded the door, approaching with nimble tongues, asking, “Ah, another guest. May I ask, what does this Gongzi seek to purchase? If urgent, please follow me. There is another customer ahead. Our boss is elderly and moves slowly, unable to handle too much at once.”

Another boy sniffed, saying, “Gongzi, you smell delightful. Are you also skilled in making incense? Such a pure fragrance, I've never encountered. The upcoming Incense and Medicine Conference is approaching on Xianzhou. Our shop is leading the preparations. Will this Gongzi attend?”

Ning Shiting nodded with a smile. “I am skilled in making incense. I have heard of the Incense Conference.”

The boy's eyes sparkled, and he swiftly brought out fragrant tea and pastries.

The shop's hospitality and scale were unmatched by any other outside.

As he waited here, the two boys chattered away, surrounding him. Quick-witted and fearing a loss of business, they steered the conversation back to the Incense Conference.

Incense competitions were a common occurrence.

Ning Shiting has been invited several times while accompanying Gu Feiyin, but not as an incense master, simply as an observer.

He can discern the ingredients of each fragrance, and even the winning fragrance can be replicated to a near-perfect level. The Incense Conference judges the insights and skills of incense masters. Even if some cannot produce the most popular fragrances, their knowledge is still highly valued.

"Guessing the Fragrance" is a particularly intense segment. The host provides past champion fragrance ingredients for the attending incense masters to evaluate and replicate exactly. Whoever first replicates it becomes the fragrance leader, gaining instant fame.

In Xianzhou, renowned incense masters are highly esteemed because fine fragrances can cleanse one's essence and improve spiritual practice. The appearance of a skilled incense master from a household immediately makes them highly sought after.

In recent years, the most famous fragrance was called "Soul Returning Incense," said to revive even the flesh and bones of the dead. However, not every Incense Conference can invite the owner of this fragrance, and to date, no one has been able to replicate it.

For Ning Shiting, such conferences generally held little significance.

He himself was not particularly competitive, and if Gu Feiyin didn't want him to stand out, he wouldn't bother attending.

As they conversed here, an inexplicable low laugh came from behind, "Oh, isn't this Ning Gongzi from the Qing Wang's mansion? Does Ning Gongzi enjoy fragrances?"

Turning his head, he saw it was the steward from the Su family who had treated them to tea for two hours yesterday.

On the other side, wearing a large cloak, stood a remarkable young man who was clearly Su Yue.

Su Yue stood with his hands behind his back, giving Ning Shiting a disdainful glance. "Is it him?"

The Su family steward said, "Yes, master."

Their gazes met, and Su Yue chuckled contemptuously before turning away.

"He's alone. What's there to fear from him? We buy our things, and he buys his. I walk my path, and he walks his."

Ning Shiting's voice carried a gentle smile. "What Immortal Master Su sees is one person, but who's to say he's alone?"

Su Yue and the steward's faces stiffened simultaneously.

Both remembered yesterday's chaos in the mansion. The child named Ting Shu, by Ning Shiting's side, turned out to be an ice mayfly spirit, capable of killing without a trace.

There might be no one next to Ning Shiting, but it was also possible that the devil-like ice mayfly spirit lurked nearby, ready to take their lives at any moment!

Su Yue choked on his words, turning to the shopkeeper with an uneasy look. "Please hurry."

The old shopkeeper cheerfully replied, "Elder Su, is this all you need, or is there anything else?"

At this point, the attendant was free to come over and attend to Ning Shiting. "What would you like to buy, Gongzi?" 

"Qilin Vine," Ning Shiting said.

"Oh, Qilin Vine, there’s more, there’s more. How much do you need?"

The attendant was delighted. Qilin Vine was priceless because it was too precious and rarely used by the people of Xianzhou. When in demand, it was highly sought after, and when not, it remained unsold for long periods. The sooner it was sold, the better.

"I want..."

Ning Shiting was interrupted before he could finish his sentence.

Ignoring him, the steward of the Su mansion faced the shopkeeper, deliberately raising his voice. "I almost forgot, we also need Qilin Vine. Our Gongzi wants it all, to be delivered to the mansion later... Ning Gongzi, you're from the Qing Wang's mansion, shouldn't you observe these rules?"

Su Yue remained silent, patting his sleeve with dignity.

Everyone present understood that he was mocking the young man who had just entered.

Embarrassed, the attendant stood still, pondering how to smooth things over when Ning Shiting spoke up, "Then, deliver it to Immortal Master Su's mansion first. Rules are rules." 

"Yes, rules are rules, first come first served..." Su Yue narrowed his eyes. "I hope Gongzi understands."

There seemed to be another meaning in his words.

For four years, his family, the Su family, had been there first. It had been a long time since anyone from the Qing Wang's mansion had intervened.

The attendant hastily apologised, "Gongzi, I'm really sorry. I didn't expect this... In a few days, we'll receive new stock. Would it be alright if we reserve the Qilin Vine for you then?"

Ning Shiting said, "No need. Today, I simply set my mind on finding a few types of Qilin Vine. If there's none available, buying something else will suffice."

He listed a few medicinal herbs and spices, and the waiter respectfully went to gather them, packing and delivering them promptly.

Taking the items, Ning Shiting nodded slightly to the shopkeeper before walking to the door.

Su Yue and the steward also left, heading towards a golden-winged carriage that had arrived gracefully, where they sat with great dignity.

"Everyone says the Qing Wang's people are easy to bully, soft-shelled crabs who are nothing without their bodyguards. If someone capable comes to challenge me for this position, I certainly won't be able to hold on to it. But if someone like you is going to take over Xizhou... I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Ning Gongzi."

Finally, Su Yue spoke up, uttering his first words.

From his sleeve, he drew a crimson golden paper book, which floated in mid-air before Ning Shiting.

"If you want to take my place, at least the Qing Wang's mansion must present some talent for everyone to see. Since Gongzi enjoys fragrances, I'll await your presence at the Incense Competition in seven days."

.𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟.

Within half a day, the news spread throughout Xizhou before Ning Shiting could return home. 

The Qing Wang's mansion accepted the fragrance invitation from the Immortal Chief’s Mansion, and in seven days, they would send someone to compete in the Incense Competition! 

The Immortal citizens loved to watch spectacles, so it was well-known that this was a competition between both sides, with betting even taking place. Most people placed their bets on the Elder Mansion. 

Even the Qing Wang's own people were betting on the Immortal Chief’s Mansion.

"Heavens, the Gongzi hasn't returned yet, so we don't even know if he accepted the invitation. But it's likely he did. Why is he so reckless? He's the current Empress's nephew. Not to mention catching a few top-notch incense masters, he's played with all sorts of rare materials since childhood! This is too reckless. If he loses, won't it disgrace our Qing Wang's mansion?"

"Xū... Can you even say that?"

"Let's stop talking about it. Are you betting or not?"

"I'm betting on Gongzi!" 

"Then you're definitely going to lose."  

"I don't care. I'm betting on Gongzi because he's handsome." 

Several maids and guards huddled together against the wall, making their wagers. 

Just as they were getting excited, a large, precious and extraordinary black-gold spirit stone fell from the mouth of a silver wolf cub that descended from the sky. 

They all knew who the owner behind the wolf cub was. For a while, they were all stunned. 

The voice of Gu Tingshuang came from the window above, he could not see anyone, but heard the voice, "I bet on him to win." 

One brave guard asked, "Shi, Shizi said who?"

There was silence on the other side for a moment.

"Ning Shiting." 

There was silence under the window. 

Why? 

The little wolf jumped back through the window, and the wind outside covered up the low murmurs of people outside, "Shizi this is… it? Why?"

He just heard the girl's voice in his ear, "I'm betting on the Gongzi!" The voice was crisp, with some unspeakable girlish thoughts, so straightforward and transparent.  

Because he was handsome. 

Thinking back to the day before yesterday in the sunshine to see the front face, close to the eyes of that Jiaoren, those black shiny eyes, the thin, red and warm lips. 

He felt that his hand that had clasped the Jiaoren’s fingers through the glove was vaguely hot.

The Author has Something to Say

Behind the Scenes 1:

A’Dong: Dianxia, although you haven't seen Ningning today, he has a line outside. He said outside that he's not Qing Wang's man, but your man.

Persimmon: Scram.

Five minutes later.

Persimmon: Where is it? Give me the script, let me take a look.

Foot Notes

1. 啧 (zé) is the sound of a tongue clicking, like “tsk” in English.

2. Some of these named ingredients are from Chinese mythology and some are made up.
   
   洞冥草(dòng míng cǎo) or “Underworld Cave Grass” is a bioluminescent grass, said to illuminate ghosts and spirits and when consumed, causes that person to glow as well. It is mentioned in "Dòng míng jì" by Guō Xiàn from the Han Dynasty, Volume Three.
   
   车马芝 (cha ma zhi) or “Carriage Horse Mushroom” is a mythological fungus from actual Chinese mythology. Taiping Yuban, Volume 986 "Illustrated Gathering of Immortal Herbs” names it as one of the divine herbs. The legend is that seven carts and horses transformed into this mushroom during the reign of Emperor Yao and those who consume it can ride clouds.
   
   龙刍 (lóng chú) or “Dragon Grass” is mentioned in many ancient texts and has the ability to allow horses to run many times faster.
   
   玉红草 (yù hóng cǎo) or “Red Jade Grass” is a plant mentioned in a few texts and poems. It is usually referenced as a plant that allows one to sleep for a very, very long time or that it imparts some of the essence of true red jade, having to do with the passion of romance.
   
   帝休 (Dì xiū) or “Emperor’s Rest” also called “不愁木" (bù chóu mù) or “Unsorrowful Wood” is mentioned in "Classic of Mountains and Seas" (《山海经·中山经》). It is said to have leaves resembling those of a poplar tree, with branches spread in five directions. It bears yellow flowers and black fruits. Consuming its fruit is believed to calm emotions and prevent anger.
   
   麒麟血藤 (Qílín), Qilin or “Kirin” Blood Vine is a real plant, but the herb here is simply “麒麟藤” or "Qilin Vine".