There was silence in the room.
Qin Xiao leaned back against the soft couch’s backrest, trapping Chu Jiubian’s legs between it and his lower back.
Chu Jiubian glanced at his legs, then up at Qin Xiao.
Qin Xiao was looking back, his expression calm and composed.
“The Qiu family’s last salt transport caravan has yet to return, but since they manage the waterway transport system and their delivery of goods is both fast and convenient, they should be able to bring back a shipment sometime this month,” Qin Xiao said casually.
Chu Jiubian sat up and withdrew his legs, then sat down cross-legged.
“Wine is best when it’s aged, and I don’t have a lot of good wine right now.” Sitting directly opposite Qin Xiao, he asked: “I’ve always wondered – why did the responsibility for waterway transportation fall into the hands of the Qiu family?”
The Great Ning Dynasty had begun constructing canals and waterways during the reign of its founding emperor, and in the late period of the previous dynasty, the Imperial family had spent lavishly and burdened the common people by constructing and opening numerous waterways for transportation.
As a result, the state of Great Ning’s water transport system was undeniably excellent.
The canal system was extensive, and connected the northern regions to the south.
The importance of these canals was evident, as it not only facilitated trade between the north and south, but also allowed for the rapid and large-scale transportation of supplies during wartime.
Why would the Imperial Court delegate such a significant project, and such a potentially lucrative “business,” to a powerful noble family?
“This is due to Elder Qiu Hongkuo of the Qiu family,” Qin Xiao said.
Chu Jiubian knew of this person.
Minister of Justice Qiu Heng and Qiu family head Qiu Xuanzheng were brothers; one served in the Imperial Court, while the other managed the family’s affairs.
But in reality, neither of them was the real decision-maker in the Qiu family.
The one who was truly in charge was their uncle, Qiu Hongkuo.
This man had a disability affecting his legs, so he rarely appeared in public. Chu Jiubian had never seen him with his own eyes.
Qin Xiao said: “During the reign of Emperor Wuzong, the head of the Qiu family was still Qiu Hongkuo’s father, who was also the Minister of Revenue. But by that time, Qiu Hongkuo had grown into a fifteen or sixteen year-old boy, and it would be no exaggeration to call him an exceptional talent.”
This person, however, disliked court life and preferred commerce, so he often traveled with the merchant caravans.
Only after he injured his legs did he shift his focus from the wider world to the affairs of the Imperial Court.
Emperor Wuzong was on the throne at that time, and he spent more than half a year campaigning abroad. The war was a drain on resources, and the Imperial Court was running at a deficit. They simply could not afford to continue fighting.
However, Qiu Hongkuo suggested to his father that the Qiu family should take responsibility for providing supplies to the military.
“It is no exaggeration to say that the Qiu family was wealthy enough to rival a nation. They indeed relieved Emperor Wuzong of his worries, and never made any complaints.” Recalling the old stories his grandfather had told him, Qin Xiao said: “Emperor Wuzong therefore favored and trusted the Qiu family, and even felt some guilt toward them.”
“After retaking the southern regions, he decided to cease military operations for the time being and give the common people the chance to recover and rebuild their lives.”
“And to compensate the Qiu family for the money they spent, Emperor Wuzong specially established a “Waterway Transport Bureau” to manage waterway transportation. He then chose the Minister of Revenue at that time, Qiu Hongkuo’s father, to be the Waterway Commissioner.”
Subsequently, Chengzong and Yingzong successively ascended the throne. Each was more incompetent and useless than the last, and neither bothered to deal with such a “trivial matter.”
It could be said that these two emperors bore undeniable responsibility for the four great families being able to exert complete control over the Imperial Court.
Chu Jiubian said with a frown: “So since then, control over the waterway transport system has remained in the Qiu family’s hands?”
“That’s right.” Qin Xiao nodded. “The current Waterway Commissioner is an elder from the Qiu family known as Qiu Shan.”
The official in charge of waterway transport possessed not only power, but the ability to reap enormous profits.
Currently, the entirety of the waterway transport system was managed by a single authority, and there were no specific taxes or restrictions based on different types of goods or the weight of the cargo. But it could be said that other than providing convenience for official and merchant ships, the canals had no further “profitable ventures.”
Leaving aside the Imperial Court’s official ships for a moment, in order for merchant ships belonging to private businesses to travel safely on the canals, it was absolutely essential to bribe and curry favor with officials from the Waterway Transport Bureau.
This must have involved countless transactions of immeasurable value, so much so that it was impossible to determine the extent of the benefits the Qiu family received from them.
“You want to take back power from the Waterway Transport Bureau?” Chu Jiubian asked.
Qin Xiao wouldn’t bring up the matter of the waterway transport business in casual conversation; he must have a plan in mind.
“Yes,” Qin Xiao answered without hesitation. “Several regions in the north and south suffered from natural disasters this year, so the Imperial Court has exempted them from taxes for a period of three years. Then there are the ships borrowed from Hexi Prefecture and the expenses for the Imperial Examinations and maintaining the army. There isn’t a single aspect that hasn’t required money.”
The Imperial Treasury would indeed earn a considerable amount of silver from the refined salt transport.
However, there was an interminable list of things that required money, so it was still necessary to find ways to increase income and reduce spending.
Historically, the simplest way to fill the Imperial Treasury had always been through confiscating the property of wealthy individuals. But currently, Qin Xiao had no one he could extort money from, so he could only turn his attention toward the waterway transport system.
If a tax system could be established for the canals, it would undoubtedly be an extremely lucrative business.
But before that, the management of the waterway transport system must be brought under the control of the Imperial Court.
Chu Jiubian was familiar with the Great Ning Dynasty’s waterway transport system, and asked upon hearing this: “What do you intend to do?”
“I intend to manage the canals in sections,” said Qin Xiao.
Chu Jiubian raised his eyebrows: “That’s a good idea.”
The main canal stretched almost the entire length of the country from north to south, but also branched off toward the southwest and southeast, forming a comprehensive and interconnected system of waterways.
Previously, branch offices were established in counties and prefectures that were suitable for the logistics of moving goods, but all of them were under the overall management of the bureau.
What Qin Xiao intended to do was to transform these branch offices into independent organizations, each responsible for a specific section of the canals.
Each section would be under the jurisdiction of a different branch of the Waterway Transport Bureau, with separate “canal superintendents” appointed for each, thus avoiding one person being in charge of the entire waterway.
At the same time, a Director-General of waterway transport should be appointed in the Imperial Court to oversee the work of these branch offices.
With all of the above, they could strip the Qiu family of their power and return control of the waterway transport system to the Imperial Court.
Furthermore, the Imperial Court would issue decrees requiring merchant ships travelling on different sections of the river to pay different levels of taxes. The process would also involve applying for specific documents, specifying the quantity of goods, the amount of taxes to be paid, when the merchant ships would depart, and when they were expected to return, and so on.
Each of these smaller steps would undoubtedly involve some degree of personal connections and favors, but just as clear water had no fish, it was necessary to allow those below to benefit somewhat in order to ensure that they served the Imperial Court effectively.
As long as things didn’t get too out of hand and the Director-General of the Waterway Transport Bureau didn’t find out, the Imperial Court would turn a blind eye.
And if someone truly overstepped the boundaries, Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian could use them as an example to deter others.
“These canal superintendents must be our own people. Where can we find them?” Chu Jiubian asked.
The Imperial Examinations had not yet begun, and the candidates were still on their way. This process would take at least three months, at which point it would be November.
And even after recruiting these people, he would still need to provide further training and personally observe the characters of these students.
Given how lengthy the process would be, it would probably take until after the New Year to finish.
But the Imperial Court was in urgent need of funds, and Qin Xiao’s proposal to reform the waterway transport system would certainly not be able to wait that long.
“I’ve read the list of candidates from Southern Zhili for the Imperial Examinations, and there are quite a few scholars who are already somewhat well-known.” Qin Xiao had clearly thought everything through. “I’ll have Wei Yi carefully screen them again, and then send people to further investigate the backgrounds of those students. If possible, they can be allowed to enter officialdom without having to take the examinations.”
Chu Jiubian’s heart skipped a beat.
Entering officialdom without taking the Imperial Examinations was no small matter.
But other than this method, there didn’t seem to be a better solution available.
Governor-General Wei Yi of Southern Zhili was one of Qin Xiao’s people, and would indeed be able to handle this task well for him.
An idea suddenly occurred to Chu Jiubian.
Wei Yi was certain to thoroughly investigate the backgrounds of these students, but this presented a good opportunity for Chu Jiubian.
He hadn’t dared to use the character card belonging to Qin Chuan, because he didn’t know how to gain the man’s trust, and could only wait for a suitable opportunity.
Now that the opportune moment had arrived, he could summon Qin Chuan and send him to Southern Zhili to help investigate the true characters of those students.
Qin Chuan controlled a large portion of the jianghu and possessed an underground intelligence network, so investigating this matter would be well within his area of expertise.
Most importantly, the other party would definitely know that Qin Xiao had instructed Wei Yi to investigate those students.
Since both the “High Priest” and Qin Xiao were investigating the same matter, and their objective was the same, didn’t that mean that the High Priest might be helping Qin Xiao?
Even so, Qin Chuan might not entirely trust the High Priest.
But with this preconceived notion, whatever happened afterward, he would certainly lean toward thinking that the High Priest and Qin Xiao had the same objectives.
Trust would be built gradually and unknowingly.
Chu Jiubian’s thoughts raced.
Qin Chuan was a valuable asset, but also a dangerous one.
If the time ever came when he was truly forced to confront Qin Xiao, Chu Jiubian would decide whether or not to use Qin Chuan based on the circumstances. But for now, all he needed to do was reveal his existence to the man.
There was also his fifth Believer, Lu Yao, the extraordinary man who “never sleeps and is always busy.”
The person in question was not a well-known scholar. Not only had the four great families and other forces failed to take note of him, but even Qin Xiao only sent one secret guard to protect him.
The difference between him and Tan Yuzhu, who was protected by eight secret guards, was rather significant.
In other words, only Chu Jiubian knew of the other party’s soaring intelligence level, yet he was still unable to make contact with him. This was unacceptable.
Therefore, he planned to have Qin Chuan pay him a visit in person.
It would be best to find another way to get this superhuman being to sleep, so that he could bring him into his Divine Realm.
Chu Jiubian quickly thought everything through. On the surface, he simply appeared to be deep in thought over the matter concerning the waterway transport system, so Qin Xiao was unable to discern anything unusual.
“What about the Director-General of waterway transport?” Chu Jiubian asked, looking at Qin Xiao again. “That official position should be at least second-rank.”
The position of Director-General of Waterway Transport would be a powerful, high-ranking one, carrying an immense amount of responsibility.
A righteous and upright minister would be needed to fill the role, preferably one who was both loyal and capable.
Ideally, that person should have some kind of background influence or power behind them, which would give them the confidence to stand firm against others and effectively fulfill their supervisory responsibilities.
Without even having to think hard about it, one person immediately came to Chu Jiubian’s mind – they were perfect for the position.
Qin Xiao regarded him with a smile: “Does the Young Master have anyone in mind?”
Their eyes met, and Chu Jiubian knew that they were both on the same page.
“Who has My Lord taken a liking to?” Chu Jiubian asked with a smile.
Qin Xiao said: “ The Censorate already exercises supervisory responsibilities, so it is perfectly reasonable for them to also hold the position of Director-General of Waterway Transport.”
Chu Jiubian nodded: “My thoughts exactly.”
Deputy Censor-in-Chief Qi Zhili was an upright and incorruptible man. And with the support of Jiang Shuoye, General of the Mobei Army, he was truly an excellent candidate.
At the thought of Jiang Shuoye, Chu Jiubian asked Qin Xiao as if by some strange impulse: “What do you think of Jiang Chifeng as a person?”
Qin Xiao thought carefully for a moment, then said: “I’ve never met him before, but I’ve heard that he is a formidable general, possessing both superior martial skills and strategic abilities. He is a born leader.”
“Are you not wary of him?” Chu Jiubian asked again, his eyes fixed on the man before him.
Qin Xiao met his gaze directly and said: “The common people of the northern frontier have not seen war in the past eight years.”
This single sentence revealed his trust in Jiang Shuoye and the Mobei Army.
No matter how powerful the Mobei Army might be, at least for now, the forces under Jiang Shuoye’s command were protecting the common people well, and that was enough.
Chu Jiubian had initially thought he would mention that there were former Qin Family Army commanders in the Mobei Army, and that a general who could exert authority over people like them must be a virtuous and capable general who served the country and its people.
Unexpectedly, what Qin Xiao cared about the most were the common people.
Once again, it came down to the common people.
Chu Jiubian stared at Qin Xiao, trying to detect the slightest hint of insincerity or other emotions in his eyes, but could glean nothing.
There were no signs of “acting” in Qin Xiao’s behavior.
Chu Jiubian was somewhat uncomprehending.
While in Hexi Prefecture, he believed that Qin Xiao genuinely cared about the common people.
But later on, he considered that Qin Xiao was perhaps just putting on a show for him, and that for someone who was designated as the cruel, ruthless villain of the book, power and status were likely what he valued most.
But now, he sensed that Qin Xiao genuinely cared about the common people and was truly dedicated to the country and its citizens…..
Chu Jiubian’s thoughts were somewhat muddled. The ringing in his ears returned, and the piercing noise caused pain in his eardrums and even the veins in his neck.
When Qin Xiao saw the vacant look in his eyes, his heart skipped a beat.
“Chu Jiubian,” he said, and reached out to grip the young man’s left wrist with slight force.
Chu Jiubian gave a slow blink. His pupils refocused.
“You –” Qin Xiao began to speak, but Chu Jiubian interrupted him.
“Guess which ear is ringing.”
Qin Xiao paused, then said: “The right ear?”
Chu Jiubian immediately laughed: “You guessed right! Here’s a reward for you.”
As he spoke, he took out a piece of candy. He leaned forward slightly, and with his free right hand, placed the grape-flavored candy into Qin Xiao’s mouth.
Then, he ate one himself. It was also grape-flavored.
At that moment, they both had the same taste on their lips.
Qin Xiao lightly brushed his tongue over the candy in his mouth, his gaze sweeping subtly across the young man’s smooth, rosy lips.
Chu Jiubian noticed that Qin Xiao’s fingertips were lightly stroking the inside of his wrist.
He lowered his eyes to look, and Qin Xiao followed his gaze.
The other’s inner wrist was smooth and fair. He had gained a small bit of weight due to eating well lately, so rather than feeling bony to the touch, it felt rather soft.
“Your – has your divine power been restored?” Qin Xiao asked.
Chu Jiubian was momentarily taken aback, and then nearly burst into laughter.
How could Qin Xiao still remember that spur-of-the-moment lie?
Seeing his half-smiling expression, Qin Xiao couldn’t control the upward curve of his lips: “What about other places?”
“What?”
Qin Xiao’s gaze fell toward the young man’s chest.
Since it was a day off work, he was wearing pure white robes. The collar was slightly disheveled, revealing the white undergarments beneath.
Qin Xiao still remembered the first time he saw him wearing only his undergarments. Bloodstains had spread across his chest like red plum blossoms, and his slightly gaping collar had revealed several messy scars on his fair skin.
Chu Jiubian lifted a hand to touch his chest. He vaguely recalled something like that happening.
His long lashes fluttered slightly as he looked down and said: “Do you want to see?”
The two exchanged a long glance, then Qin Xiao withdrew his hand and said: “Shall we go for a walk?”
This was a straightforward invitation, and it would be convenient to go to Yangxin Hall for dinner afterward.
“Okay,” Chu Jiubian agreed.
As the two walked through the palace gate, Qin Xiao raised a question: “Why did you ask me to guess which of your ears was ringing just now?”
“If you guessed correctly, something good would happen,” Chu Jiubian said.
With a strong, sweet taste lingering in his mouth, Qin Xiao said in a low voice: “Indeed.”
*
*
That night, Chu Jiubian once again summoned Jiang Shuoye into the Divine Realm.
The other party was now quite familiar with this process, and this time, instead of jumping down on his own, he finally boarded the “express train.”
The last time he entered the Divine Realm, he had seen Wang Qichen arrive on an actual golden phoenix.
Although Wang Qichen wasn’t exactly a martial artist, he did possess some qinggong ability and wouldn’t be injured by jumping down from a height.
So that golden phoenix was originally meant to transport Believers…..and by jumping down directly the first time, he had missed out on it for so long.
Jiang Shuoye dismounted from the golden phoenix and bowed to the High Priest.
Chu Jiubian responded coolly: “Have a seat.”
Jiang Shuoye agreed and went to the table, where he noticed that the chair to the left of where he had sat last time had changed.
It was pale purple, with swaying flower branches.
Chu Jiubian had already determined much of this person’s personality and preferences, so when he walked to his seat, an idea suddenly struck him.
Just as Jiang Shuoye was about to sit down, he noticed that the chair in front of him was also changing.
A hint of emerald green appeared on the white jade surface, followed by a carved jade pine tree that materialized on the backrest of the chair, standing tall and verdant.
Jiang Shuoye’s eyes lit up slightly, and he lightly touched the pine tree. Its smooth, jade-like texture blended seamlessly with the seat, a masterpiece of craftsmanship.
It truly lived up to the name of a divine artifact.
Fearing that he would delay the High Priest’s important business, he didn’t linger to admire it further, but instead took his seat. After a moment or two, he looked up and asked: “The High Priest summoned me here. Does he have any instructions?”
“This is a gift for you. Take it and put it toward steel production.” When Chu Jiubian finished speaking, three large boxes, all filled to the brim with silver, appeared on the table in front of Jiang Shuoye.
Jiang Shuoye had been scrimping and saving for many years, and when so much money suddenly appeared in front of him, he almost couldn’t believe his eyes.
When he regained his composure, he quickly stood up and expressed his gratitude.
Chu Jiubian said nothing more, just waiting for Jiang Shuoye to ask.
But the other party didn’t ask after the silver’s origins. He picked up one of the coins and examined it, saying with some concern: “High Priest, this is all official government money.”
“En.”
“To be honest with the High Priest,” Jiang Shuoye said, “since your name has become known across the Northern Desert, people have been coming to inquire about you, but they haven’t discovered any clues. However, if this official money is put to use, it might bring trouble to your door.”
There were some differences between the official government-issued silver and the silver that circulated amongst the general public.
The general public silver could be cut into pieces of varying sizes, or it could be kept in its original form. However, official government silver was primarily used for transactions related to businesses managed by the Imperial Court.
For example, salt and iron transactions used official currency, and the majority of the gold and silver stored in the treasuries of the four great families was official currency as well.
Such a large amount of government funds being spent would inevitably raise suspicions.
Chu Jiubian, however, didn’t seem to care. He said: “It won’t be a problem.”
Anyone who wished to investigate could go right ahead. His biggest worry before had been that Qin Xiao would discover his relationship with the High Priest, but he didn’t really care if anyone else found out.
After all, the High Priest’s purpose in gathering Believers was not to confront other forces, but to be able to oppose Qin Xiao if necessary.
But the political situation in the capital was currently in chaos, and Qin Xiao had never given up on investigating his connection with the High Priest. Therefore, Chu Jiubian decided to stop playing innocent and simply allow Qin Xiao to discover that they were indeed connected.
However, he could not be allowed to know that they were the same person.
“If anyone asks, it is fine to reveal some details of my relationship with the Divine Lord,” Chu Jiubian said.
Jiang Shuoye lowered his eyes and nodded in agreement.
The High Priest had previously mentioned his relationship with Grand Tutor Chu in the capital, describing it as one of mutual dependence and coexistence.
These silver coins, it seemed, had been given to the High Priest by Grand Tutor Chu.
“High Priest, this subordinate has another question.”
“What is it?”
Jiang Shuoye looked up at the towering, ethereal image of the god and said solemnly: “Does this subordinate need to recruit more soldiers?”
Chu Jiubian raised an eyebrow, his eyes glinting with a hint of appreciation.
He hadn’t even said much, just giving him the task of producing extra steel and revealing his relationship with “Grand Tutor Chu,” yet Jiang Shuoye had already guessed what would happen next.
To become the general of an army at such a young age, he was certainly not a simple person.
“There is no need for the time being,” Chu Jiubian replied.
That was something that might need to be handled at some point in the future.
Jiang Shuoye understood. He received his orders, then departed from the Divine Realm.
*
*
Several more days passed.
August 23rd, in the western courtyard of Yangxin Hall.
The weather had cleared up after the past few days of rain, and the moon shone very brightly tonight. Even without lighting an oil lamp, one could still make out the furnishings in the room with the window open.
It was late at night.
Qin Xiao stood at the window, gazing out at the distant silver moon.
A few steps behind him, Qin Chaoyang reported: “My Lord, news has arrived from the Northern Desert region.”
His tone was somewhat cautious as he looked at Qin Xiao’s back: “The official silver you gave the Young Master did indeed appear in the Northern Desert, originating from General Chifeng.”
This incident provided sufficient proof that Chu Jiubian did indeed have a connection to the Northern Desert.
His connection with that mysterious “High Priest” was even more complicated – it was even possible that the Young Master himself was the High Priest.
Qin Chaoyang felt cold sweat drip down his back. He was utterly terrified.
The capital was several days’ journey from the northern frontier, and the Young Master had not left the capital during this period, nor had he made contact with anyone unknown to them.
Therefore, it was impossible for Chu Jiubian to have sent someone to deliver the silver to the Northern Desert.
The fact that this silver had inexplicably ended up in the Northern Desert, coupled with the earlier incidents where Chu Jiubian seemingly conjured grain out of thin air for Hexi Prefecture and Nanjiang, left Qin Chaoyang in a state of complete astonishment.
Supernatural powers!
The Young Master was actually a god!
In the quietness of the room, Qin Xiao remained silent.
Qin Chaoyang glanced up to see him standing at the window, his figure silhouetted by the moonlight in a way that created a sharp contrast with the dimness of the room. It made him look particularly lonely.
Qin Xiao gazed into the distance.
Toward that distant, unattainable silver moon.
*
*
Meanwhile, at Yaotai Residence.
Chu Jiubian lay down in bed and closed his eyes, then entered the Divine Realm.
News had just arrived from Southern Zhili that Wei Yi had selected over a dozen students who were suitable for managing matters related to the waterway transport, and he was currently evaluating each of their characters.
Since there were now suitable people available, Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian should bring up the matter of reorganizing the waterway transportation system at tomorrow’s morning court session.
At last, Chu Jiubian was able to summon his fourth Believer.
He wasted no time upon his arrival in the Divine Realm, and immediately said: “System, summon Qin Chuan.”
[It has been detected that Believer Qin Chuan is in a sleeping state and may be summoned.]
[Summoning successful.]
Chu Jiubian raised his eyes and gazed into the mist.
A dark figure descended from the sky.
That person was agile, and reacted instantly to the feeling of weightlessness, pushing off empty air with his toes and landing safely a moment later.
His light, agile movements suggested that his martial arts skills, qinggong in particular, were even better than Jiang Shuoye’s.
With his ability to see everything within the Divine Realm, Chu Jiubian could naturally see the other’s face…..
Which bore a striking resemblance to Qin Xiao’s!
As expected of brothers, although they looked alike, their personalities were completely different.
Qin Xiao was more reserved and melancholic, occasionally even displaying a hint of sinister intent, but Qin Chuan had a more relaxed demeanor and a carefree, uninhibited temperament.
Previously, his three other Believers had each reacted differently.
Qin Chuan seemed like an easily adaptable person. Even when he abruptly appeared in the Divine Realm, he showed no signs of wariness, and his demeanor remained completely at ease.
Noticing movement ahead, he proceeded to walk slowly and leisurely. Anyone watching would think he was just out for a casual stroll.
The reactions of his Believers were all quite interesting, and Chu Jiubian found them rather amusing.
Qin Chuan emerged from the mist step by step and approached the long white table.
Chu Jiubian didn’t want him to know how many Believers he had, so he’d put away all of the other chairs, leaving only one that was devoid of decorative carvings.
The current scene should be the same as when Jiang Shuoye first entered the Divine Realm.
Qin Chuan glanced around at his surroundings, then looked up at the giant, ethereal figure of the deity, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Was this a dream?
“Welcome to my Divine Realm,” Chu Jiubian said in a cold, clear voice.
Divine Realm?
Recently, two famous “deities” had appeared in Great Ning.
One was Grand Tutor Chu of the Imperial Palace, the reincarnation of the Sacred Star God. The other was the High Priest, who had appeared in Jiang Shuoye’s dreams to impart knowledge to him.
And the person before him was naturally – Qin Chuan’s heart stirred. He straightened his expression and bowed respectfully to the illusory figure: “Qin Chuan greets the High Priest.”
It came as no surprise to Chu Jiubian that he was able to guess his identity.
“Have a seat,” he said.
As expected, he was right.
An odd glint flashed through Qin Chuan’s eyes. After expressing his gratitude, he made his way over to the chair and sat down.
He placed his hands on the long table and felt to trace of man-made carvings, yet the table was undeniably inscribed with numerous runes or totems.
It was rumored that Jiang Shuoye had received instructions from the High Priest in a dream, and thus obtained the knowledge of how to create stirrups and saddles.
Why had the High Priest sought him out now?
And what was the relationship between the High Priest and Grand Tutor Chu?
He simply asked his question directly.
“May I ask why the High Priest has appeared in my dreams?”
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Neon Dragonfly Translations 