Chapter 142: Only a Corner of Paper

Are there no practitioners left in Xiuxia City?
Not really; otherwise, who would protect this great city from foreign invasions?
Shortly after Shuyu arrived in the city, a group of young eunuchs dressed in cyan robes emerged from the palace, standing in neat rows to await her.
"Her Majesty inquires of the Left Envoy: With the national war imminent and your arrival in Xiuxia, are you bearing a message from the Palace Master?"
"My journey is not for delivering a message. Tell Her Majesty that I am merely passing through on no special business."
"Understood. This is the letter Her Majesty wishes to give to the Left Envoy."
"Very well, leave it there. You may go, and convey my regards to Her Majesty."
"This servant takes his leave."
After the people left, Gu Yi emerged from the corner of the room. "It seems your friendship with the Emperor of Li is not shallow."
"A mere chance encounter. Her Majesty must show respect to the Great Rain Palace, and I am the Left Palace Envoy. Upon arriving in Xiuxia City, she could hardly ignore my presence."
"Are you still the Left Palace Envoy?" Gu Yi chuckled. "The two of us are somewhat eccentric. Coming to the capital of the Li State at a time like this completely exposes your whereabouts. Soon, Palace Master Gu will realize that her Left Palace Envoy has boarded a pirate ship."
Shuyu harbored a glimmer of hope. "The Palace Master and I both belong to the Mo clan; perhaps she will understand me."
That matter would have to wait for the future.
Gu Yi pointed to the object wrapped in yellow cloth. "See what your Empress has to say to you. She even sent an emissary and insists on whispering in a letter."
Shuyu held it in her hands, unwrapped it to reveal the envelope, and after a moment of hesitation, handed it to Gu Yi. "Why don't you read it?"
"What are you thinking now? This letter wasn't written to me. Since it was written to you, naturally you should read it."
The young woman was probably worried that after talking about going to Luyang, she was now exchanging private letters with the Li Emperor, making it look as though her trip to Luyang had ulterior motives.
However, Gu Yi still trusted her.
"Then... very well."
Shuyu opened the envelope gracefully, revealing a thin sheet of pale yellowish-white paper covered in neat, block-like characters.
Gu Yi sat cross-legged, drinking tea and waiting.
As Shuyu read line by line, her expression grew increasingly grave, causing him some concern. "What is it? Has something happened?"
"It's a plea for help." Shuyu handed the letter directly to Gu Yi.
Since he was allowed to read it, he did. Like Shuyu, after scanning it twice, he lost all leisure to drink tea.
"So the two peaks have always been fighting over the River Rain Tomb because of this..."
Shuyu was equally unexpected. "The guesses we made back then now seem mere conjectures. The secret hidden within River Rain was the *Eight Records of a Rainy Night*. Ironically, as the Left Palace Envoy of the Great Rain Palace, I never even knew what the *Eight Records of a Rainy Night* actually were."
Gu Yi frowned in deep thought. Viewed this way, the other 'self' mentioned by little Yiyi had already informed the people of the two peaks about the existence of the *Eight Records of a Rainy Night*, and had done so long ago.
That was why River Rain had died a sudden death; and after that sudden death, the two peaks acquired the Ocean Paper and obtained the whereabouts of the Talent Paper.
According to the Li Emperor's letter, the Talent Paper was right within the Xiuxia Imperial Palace, and this plea for help was an appeal for Shuyu to help fend off the invading people of the two peaks.
Perhaps they had already entered the city.
"The *Eight Records of a Rainy Night* was left behind by a senior of the Lesser Window Peak among the two peaks." Hearing that she was unaware of it, Gu Yi shared this information with her.
Shuyu asked, "What is recorded within it?"
"Three hundred years ago, the State of Xu and the two peaks fought a great war. Most of the people involved perished, and the Yin emperors covered up the majority of that history. Later generations no longer know what truly happened back then, including those who are now reviving the banner of the two peaks."
"Against this backdrop, the *Eight Records of a Rainy Night*—being a retrospective text left by predecessors—naturally holds irreplaceable value. The eight records actually consist of only eight pages, divided into four parts: Dream Paper, Ocean Paper, Talent Paper, and Immortal Paper. I once perused the Dream Paper in the Luyang Academy, and it was mostly around that time that I learned of these matters."
Shuyu was puzzled. "Merely to review history?"
"Of course not. In the present world, mortal realms are scarce. Even someone with insight as high as the Eighteenth Tower Lord can only reach the Sage realm with extreme difficulty, unable to advance further. Thus, something is wrong with our world. The Palace Master is searching for the 'Origin World' precisely because of this, which makes the contents of the *Eight Records of a Rainy Night* priceless. In fact, I am searching for it as well."
Put that way, with something so important at stake, they truly could not just leave like this.
"At the very least, we cannot let the people of the two peaks easily obtain the Talent Paper."
Gu Yi nodded. "Indeed, we must meddle in this. As far as I know, the Talent Paper records the extraordinary figures and strange tales of three hundred years ago—how the immortal cultivators of that era lived, and even how they attained their power."
Regardless of how it went, it was bound to be far more splendid and romantic than the present day.
Shuyu could not help sighing, "That being so, we were truly born in the wrong era. It is laughable that I told you yesterday we were the only ones of our generation, only to realize we were merely frogs at the bottom of a well, indulging in self-admiration."
"Fortunately, you didn't rank yourself first and lump me in with you." Gu Yi said this somewhat teasingly,
causing Shuyu to blush with embarrassment.
"None of this matters." Gu Yi spread the letter out on the desk. "What matters is that if we intend to repel these people from the two peaks, we will inevitably have to interact with the Li Emperor."
"Mm, and so what?"
Gu Yi pointed at himself. "I am a citizen of the State of Xu. Under what identity do you plan to cover for me?"
He had actually asked this question quite seriously,
but for some reason, it made Shuyu's face flush with vexation. After murmuring "I don't know," she fled, leaving only a trail of lingering fragrance.
Gu Yi was dumbfounded.
Do girls think that much once they get caught up in things? Was the question I asked inherently problematic?
Surely not. Where on earth did her thoughts wander?
Emm...
Gu Yi had to seriously ponder this matter. In a world where romantic relationships were relatively conservative, if he kept dragging her around everywhere and tacitly assumed he was bringing her back to Luyang...
Although nothing had been said, it seemed like he had sent a very clear signal?!
What a scoundrel!
Yet, come to think of it, although Gu Yi had previously spoken harshly about the Mo clan, observing Shuyu's recent behavior, her words and actions had indeed grown much gentler, lacking their original coldness.
"I am going to see Her Majesty. Stay right here and don't wander off, wait for me to return." Shuyu, who had been gone for a short while, suddenly returned to the room.
She had gone to change her clothes.
She now wore luxurious official attire, belted at the waist and topped with a cap, radiating a heroic spirit. Without a veil covering her face in this outfit, Gu Yi perceived a uniquely captivating charm.
"......Alright."
Shuyu blushed because Gu Yi kept staring at her.
Yet the more she blushed, the more breathtakingly radiant Gu Yi found her.
"I'm leaving."
A few minutes after she slipped away, Gu Yi finally recovered his wits, instantly sighing that this was his good fortune! Why put on any airs?
Hehehe.
Gu Yi amused himself for a moment, then suddenly caught sight of the calligraphy scroll Four Gold had bought:
*Strive not to overfill, better to stop in time; hammer a point too sharp, and it cannot long endure. Gold and jade fill the hall, yet none can guard them; wealth and arrogance bring ruin upon oneself. To achieve merit and retire—this is the Way of Heaven.*
Was this that fellow's interpretation of the Way of Heaven?
With nothing better to do, Gu Yi folded the scroll, placed it inside a wooden box, tied it around his waist, picked up an umbrella, and stepped out of the room, heading toward the white wall where Huang Ren had been writing earlier.
This wall was simply a wall.
A white wall.
However, the eaves overhead protecting it from the rain consisted of mismatched green tiles, making it look as though they had been built at different times.
Passersby along this street never spared Huang Ren more than a glance, and Huang Ren paid no heed to the world's hustle and bustle. Each immersed in their own realm, they achieved a subtle balance.
Although Huang Ren still looked disheveled with his unkempt beard and messy hair, unlike before, all his equipment had been replaced. The desk set out on the ground was brand new, and his brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were a complete set.
Huang Ren no longer needed to dip his brush in rainwater; he now used black ink, making the characters on the wall much clearer.
Gu Yi twitched the corner of his mouth. This sudden upgrade in equipment was entirely thanks to his contribution just moments ago.
Yet, even with his "VIP customer" arrived, Huang Ren acted as if he couldn't see him, engrossed in his writing. Sometimes his strokes were as swift as the wind, sometimes he paused in deep thought; now flipping through copybooks to emulate them, then shaking his head to savor them quietly.
Gu Yi looked left and right, feeling he ought to say something, but sensing he wasn't particularly welcome.
At that moment, a young woman on the second floor across the street caught sight of him, and she descended with her attendants.
Walking slowly up to Gu Yi, she asked, "Sir, are you the one who just offered a hefty sum for the master's calligraphy?"
Hearing the voice, Gu Yi turned around. The girl, dressed in a goose-yellow padded dress, had a round yet delicate face, with an air of scholarly refinement between her brows.
"It is I. How may I help you, young lady?"
"Oh, Liu Yi just heard that someone bought Master Huang's calligraphy today, and thinking they must be an art lover, I wished to make their acquaintance. Liu Yi has no other hobbies aside from running small businesses and admiring Master Huang's writing. If the young master doesn't mind, would you care to come upstairs and view some calligraphy?"
Gu Yi glanced behind him. Indeed, there was a rather grand tavern, though due to the inclement weather, it lacked bustling crowds at the moment.
"Isn't Master Huang's wall a gift from Her Majesty?" Gu Yi doubted whether she truly loved Huang Ren's calligraphy as much as she claimed.
The girl named Liu Yi explained, "I was quite young back then and many decisions were beyond my control, which led to Master Huang suffering hardships for many years. But now, Master Huang gets his meals right here at the Carefree Tavern—a tiny contribution of mine."
"I see. Then I'd be impolite to refuse. I'm a traveler from out of town, and I'd like to ask the young lady to enlighten me: why is Huang Ren so obsessed with calligraphy?"
"That question is best answered by Master Huang himself." Liu Yi stepped forward and called out to Huang Ren, "Master, today we have salted and spiced eight-treasure chicken, prime tofu soup, and southern pickled drunken shrimp. Shall we have dinner first?"
Huang Ren's brush stopped mid-stroke. He immediately put it down, carefully placed it aside, gave a sullen grunt of assent, and hurried toward the second floor of the tavern.
"Only money and food can drag him out of the world of calligraphy," Gu Yi observed.
Miss Liu Yi remarked, "The utmost vulgarity is the utmost elegance. May I ask the young master's honorable surname?"
"No need for formalities, my surname is Gu."
"Young Master Gu, please."
Very well, with nothing else pressing, he might as well take a look.
Clang.
Gu Yi set his wooden box down, took out the calligraphy he had bought earlier,
It was fine calligraphy, though not written on fine paper, yet Gu Yi had protected it well without wrinkles or dampness, despite the heavy rain.
Glancing at the paper, Huang Ren finally looked up at Gu Yi. "Hey? Aren't you that fellow from earlier? When did you get here? Did you get rich again?"
Gu Yi: "..."
Seriously? You only just noticed me now?
Forget it.
He spread out the paper and said courteously, "Master Huang, when I went back and looked over this piece, I found myself somewhat puzzled, so I've come to ask for your guidance."
"Seeking guidance?" Huang Ren looked rather displeased. "In your case, that requires extra pay."
E-extra pay?
"Are you really that short of money?" Gu Yi looked toward Liu Yi, who was seated at the side of the square table.
The young lady explained, "Although the master loves wealth, he acquires it through proper means. If it is rightly earned, he is never polite; but if it is unearned, the master will never accept it."
Gu Yi asked, "Then what about eating free meals here every day?"
"Who ate a free meal?" Huang Ren suddenly turned grumpy. "This young lady watches me write from upstairs every single day and appreciates it—is that not worth anything?"
"You jest, Master Huang. You write out on the street where countless people pass by. Do you charge every single person?"
Huang Ren remained steadfast in his logic. "Most people in this world are hypocritical gentlemen or uncouth peddlers who understand nothing and deem my calligraphy worthless. Since it has no value to them, naturally I charge them nothing. But since this young lady understands it, she ought to pay."
Gu Yi smiled bitterly. "By your logic, those who gain the most should pay you the most."
"Precisely. The matter you're asking about is of utmost importance to you, so it requires an extra fee."
Gu Yi found it amusing. "Then, Master Huang, how did you know it was extremely important to me?"
"Why else would you come back? Is my appearance supposed to be pleasing to the eye?"
Observing their exchange, Liu Yi found their mutual stubbornness quite amusing.
"Young Master Gu, Master Huang is eccentric and has always been this way. He isn't deliberately trying to fleece you. Since we share an affinity by meeting here, Liu Yi is willing to pay the 'guidance' fee on the young master's behalf."
"How can a man let a lady pay for him?" Gu Yi waved his hand expansively and retrieved two gold ingots from his pouch. "Master Huang, is this enough?"
"Barely. Not that it's much."
This fellow really was hilarious.
"Then, Master Huang..."
"Wait until I've finished eating."
Gu Yi's eyelids involuntarily twitched, prompting Liu Yi to cover her mouth and chuckle softly. "Young Master Gu, the day is still early, so let's wait a moment and try our food here."
Gu Yi shot the old rascal Huang Ren a 'bah' look, then smiled gently at Liu Yi. "Thank you, young lady. You are truly kind-hearted."
"Oh, I love calligraphy, so naturally I love making like-minded friends."
"Then how does Miss Liu Yi interpret the calligraphy Master Huang sold me?"
The young lady stood up, walked to the opposite side of the square table, and carefully examined the lines. "*Strive not to overfill, better to stop in time;* means that when holding onto abundance, it is better to stop at the appropriate moment."
That was a sound interpretation, though it only gave the meaning without explaining the underlying principle.
Without waiting for anyone to prompt him, the old rascal Huang Ren chimed in on his own, "Holding means not losing virtue. Yet to possess virtue and still seek to overfill is bound to lead to peril. Thus, 'better to stop in time' means it is even worse than having neither virtue nor merit."
Hearing this, Gu Yi's expression shifted. "Miss Liu Yi, and what about the next line: *Hammer a point too sharp, and it cannot long endure*?"
"That means once a sharp edge is displayed, that keen momentum is difficult to maintain for long."
The old rascal chimed in again, "To sharpen the tip and make it razor-sharp is bound to suffer bluntness and breakage, hence it cannot long endure."
Gu Yi immediately asked, "And *Gold and jade fill the hall, yet none can guard them; wealth and arrogance bring ruin upon oneself*?"
Miss Liu Yi interpreted, "This says that when gold and jade fill the hall, one cannot hoard them all; when wealth reaches the point of arrogance, one is courting disaster."
The old rascal put down his chopsticks. "When the sun reaches noon, it shifts; when the moon is full, it wanes—this is the operation of the four seasons. To achieve merit, complete one's name, and retire—even Heaven and Earth do so, how much more so for humans?"
Gu Yi tapped on the table. "*Even Heaven and Earth do so, how much more so for humans.* The movement of Heaven and Earth constitutes the Way of Heaven."
"May I eat my meal now?"
Miss Liu Yi and Gu Yi smiled at each other.
Though he called it eating a meal, Huang Ren was practically gulping it down. Although it was an exquisitely prepared table of dishes fit for a city that valued culture and refinement—where everything was supposed to have depth, including the culinary arts—this old rascal ate like a starving ghost, with atrocious table manners, stuffing all kinds of food into his wide-open mouth.
After devouring everything in a frenzy, he chugged down an entire pot of water.
Even Miss Liu Yi felt a bit embarrassed watching him, fearing anyone might think she had starved Huang Ren. Leaning closer, she whispered, "To save time, the master always eats like this."
"Such a waste of good food."
"What a waste? Eating is merely to fill the stomach; it's dreadfully dull. I'm finished, you two enjoy yourselves."
Abruptly, he rose from his seat, hurried halfway down the stairs, stopped, hesitated for a moment, and then trudged back up.
"Hey, Gu boy, I'm returning your two gold ingots."
Looking at the items the old man pulled out, Gu Yi was puzzled. Wasn't he supposed to love money? "Master Huang, why is this?"
"Oh, I forgot. I thought what I wrote for you was my own, but actually I mixed it up. I got it from somewhere else."
"From where?"
"On a piece of paper."
Gu Yi's brows tightened. "What kind of paper?"
The old rascal wore a dazed and hazy expression. "I've forgotten. Anyway, that's that. Here's your money back, I'm leaving. Nothing else, don't come disturbing my writing."
"Hey..." Gu Yi wanted to give chase.
Miss Liu Yi took two steps forward to block him. "Young Master Gu, don't chase him. Master Huang is just like that. If he has something to say, he'll blurt it all out at once; if he doesn't, asking him gets you nowhere."
Gu Yi muttered, "What a wretched habit."
"It's not a wretched habit," Miss Liu Yi smiled and said, "it's just the most time-saving way."
Gu Yi was left speechless. Just as he was trying to figure out where the old rascal might have seen it, he caught sight of Shuyu's figure drifting into the second floor.
"You're back?"
Originally, he hadn't thought much of it, but Shuyu looked between him and Miss Liu Yi, who was standing nearby. "Who is this young lady? Did you make a new friend in just this short while?"
Gu Yi: "..."