Chapter 654
Milky white fog slowly gathered in the mountain valley . The sun slowly rose above the East Sea and toiled to climb above countless mountains, bringing warmth and sunlight into the air above the hollow in the mountain, lightly dissipating the white fog .
It seemed that in a moment, the sky brightened . In the mountain valley covered by trees, the birds chirped as they woke . Dew fell from the leaves, shaking free of the heavy burden . The leaves quickly bounced up like they were stretching . The entire mountain valley was filled with a sense of fresh air .
Fan Xian rubbed his tired eyes and sat for a while by his bed before coming to his senses . He had talked with his father for too long and had slept too late, something he was not used to . Not many people in Ten Family Village knew about his arrival . There were no servants or serving girls . When he pushed opened the wooden door and felt the slightly cool wind wash over him, he was surprised to see a basin of hot water at his feet .
Sitting on the threshold, he wrung out the towel in the hot basin of water and rubbed it vigorously over his face until his cheeks were slightly red . Only then did he feel satisfied and tossed his towel back into the basin . Picking up the basin, he walked into the courtyard next door to indicate that he saw his subordinates' silence .
Fan Xian served his father for the entire morning, bringing him tea, handing him water, making his food, and massaging his shoulders . He had been reborn 20 years . Much of it had been spent in Danzhou . He was always busy in Jingdou . It had also been three years since he saw his father . He knew that as a son, he had not been competent . Thus, the rare opportunity of being in the mountain valley of a foreign country without other matters to bother him, he seriously fulfilled his responsibility as a son .
Minister Fan was surprised at first, but he understood what Fan Xian was thinking . He only smiled and calmly allowed him to serve him .
After casually having some plain porridge and buns, the father and son pushed open the door of the courtyard and walked along the wide paths in Ten Family Village, heading in the direction of the large mountain by the village . The path was faintly hidden by a white fog, so it was difficult to see the pavement and gaps beneath one's feet . Fan Xian carefully supported his father as they walked and quietly talked .
The roads through had three horizontal and one vertical . Although hidden in the white fog, one could still see they were crafted to a high standard and were very wide . It was completely at odds with the height of the buildings in the mountain estate . Fan Xian knew this would be needed for transportation, so it had been prepared ahead of time .
A peach blossom peaked out from the white fog, Minister Fan pointed at it and quietly said some things . At his side, Fan Xian repeatedly nodded his head . Reaching the side of a stone well, Minister Fan said something else . Fan Xian nodded again .
Throughout their morning walk, Minister Fan warmly explained to Fan Xian what each workshop would be used for and who would be stationed in each room, as well as how the three workshops should be arranged if they were rebuilt . Talking and walking like this, it did not take long for the father and son to follow the stone path into the mountain . They only stopped walking when they reached a kind of flying stone at the middle of the mountain .
The father and son turned their heads to look down the mountain at the same time . They saw a streak of golden sunlight shining through tens of thousands of li . In an instant, it swept aside the white fog in the valley and revealed the true appearance therein . Countless residences of various designs lay in picturesque disorder long the direct path and narrow streets, all lined up in the valley . Among the green walls and black eaves, an occasional ancient tree stretched out . It appeared fresh and clean . In the distance, one could faintly see streaks of smoke spiraling into the air, presumably, those who had risen early were boiling water and cooking breakfast .
Fan Xian narrowed his eyes and gazed into the mountain valley only to see that the densely packed residences between the two mountains stretched further and further, expanding toward the east . He couldn't even see an indication of the end .
The previous night, he had only seen the starlight beneath his feet . Now, he had seen the truth and realized that the Ten Family Village had now become such a vast existence . Thinking of the hard work these two years of those who had worked hard for Ten Family Village, and seeing the results in front of him, a smile gradually rose to his face .
"The crime of wealth . " Minister Fan supported his waist with his hand and smiled . Panting slightly, he said, "What you see is only a shell . If you really put treasures inside, once the news gets out, everyone in the world will probably want a piece of you . "
"Not many people have the ability to take a bite of me," Fan Xian replied with a smile .
Minister Fan shook his head disapprovingly and said, "Although the mountain valley is easy to defend and difficult to assault, how can a mere few thousand people stand against the attack of a kingdom's army?"
"Last night, you showed me the map . If the Emperor really wants to send out troops, Dongyi and Northern Qi are in between and should have some reaction . "
"Dongyi is about to become part of the Qing Kingdom…"
"Only in name . Without 10 years of labor, it will be difficult for the Qing Kingdom to peacefully assimilate Dongyi into itself . "
"What about Dongyi itself? Or the Northern Qi people?" Minister Fan looked at him with a slight smile . "The things you mother left behind are alluring . No one can resist them . This place is close to Northern Qi . How could the Northern Qi people pass up such an opportunity?"
Fan Xian smiled and helped his father sit on a stone halfway up the mountain . After thinking for a moment, he said, "For Northern Qi, I have a way to hold the little Emperor in check . Even if he is truly blinded by the diamond, I have a way to make him forget about it . "
"For a second palace treasury to appear in the world, do you think the ruler of a kingdom will give it up so easily?" Minister Fan used an amused gaze to take measure of his son . "Although I don't know where your confidence about the Northern Qi Emperor comes from, if this matter gets out, the civil and martial officials of Northern Qi are bound to be salivating . Even if the Northern Qi Emperor is unwilling to offend you, how can he stop the will of an entire country?"
Fan Xian stood by his father's side and withdrew his downward gaze . Smiling bitterly, he said, "Then, what can we do? This has always been a thorny problem . Putting aside the Emperor for now, even if, many years in the future, I want to protect this place, I need to be powerful enough to do so . '
"Fine, we'll do as you say and put aside the Emperor for now . " Minister Fan smiled . The father and son both knew that the biggest danger to Ten Family Village was still from the Emperor in Jingdou . "Just speaking of the three kingdoms under heaven that you need to contend with, how much power do you have at the moment to protect this place?"
"I have control of the most ninth-level aces in the world . " Fan Xian was silent for a moment and then said seriously, "More than the Emperor . "
"You're certain that Sigu Jian is willing to give those people to you?" Minister Fan asked . "Even if he is willing, once he dies, how will you control the people of the Sword Hut?"
"That'll depend on how Sigu Jian handles it," Fan Xian replied . "As for the problem of whether or not he will give them to me, I think that he won't have to consider it . For Dongyi, there is the greatest benefit for them in this matter . "
"Speaking of benefits, I am truly worried about the commoners of the Qing Kingdom . " Fan Jian suddenly became gloomy .
"This here is only a supplement, a back-up, a threat . " Fan Xian pressed his lips together and quietly said, "If we don't have to use it, that is the best conclusion . "
The white fog in the mountain valley had cleared long ago . Forced by the gradually rising temperature on the ground, the white fog floated upward shapelessly . It met the slightly cold mountain breeze at the waist of the mountain and gradually formed into white fog again .
The Fan father and son sat amongst the white clouds on the stones . Fog swirled around them . Their clothing fluttered gently . They looked like two immortals . Not far away, by the road into the mountain, there was a farmer chopping wood . He forcefully suppressed the curiosity in his heart and didn't turn his gaze toward the two shadowy figures in the clouds . Further away, there were the tips of something hidden in the darkness . These people were the guards of Ten Family Village, protecting the buildings and people in the darkness .
The existence of these people probably couldn't fool Fan Xian or Minister Fan, but the two of them did not want to disturb too many people . They only silently watched as the clouds grew and faded around them .
After a long silence, Minister Fan suddenly said calmly, "After reading a thousand of years of history books, I have never seen someone able to change the world from the marrow of his bones . "
Fan Xian didn't respond . He knew what his father meant .
"Your mother was blessed by heaven . She had pose and talent of a celestial being . Perhaps she wanted to use her strength to change this world . In the end, she failed . " Minister Fan's expression was cold and wooden . Within this cold woodenness, there was an unspeakable lament .
He raised his arm and pointed at the group of buildings in the valley . His sleeve fluttered lightly in the wind as he emotionally said, "Many years ago, on a wasteland in North Min, I looked upon a boundless and magnificent view, just like I am today, and watched as it returned to nothingness . Your mother's mind was always filled with such strange and marvelous thoughts . Not only did it subdue the people of the world, it also seemed to subdue the limits the heavens had given us . How could people not be moved?"
Fan Xian was slightly moved as he listened .
"If your mother hadn't died, the palace treasury would certainly not be what it is like now . Following her thoughts, the property of the Ye family would eventually cover the world . " Fan Jian sighed . "When you had the idea to form Ten Family Village, I did not approve at first . Thinking of your mother's dreams, I decided to allow you to do as you wished . "
"I have long been pondering some questions . Where exactly did your mother come from? What did you want to do in coming to this world? And, why did she leave?"
Fan Xian sat down close to his father and was silent .
In the mountain wind, Minister Fan's clear and thin face appeared particularly calm . "Us old folks experienced what happened many years ago . We could guess that your mother came from the illusory and misty Temple and Wu Zhu was her guard . The Temple never interferes in worldly affairs, so why would there be such a dreamlike story?"
Fan Xian hugged his knees with his arms and gently placed his face against his knees, watching sideways as his father was lost in thought . He knew his father had been a famous romantic in Jingdou . His poetry and art had all been the best of the time . Later, his friends began to think about world affairs, so he had given up those spirited and superficial things and invested himself into such dry but important affairs as accounts .
Halfway up the mountain by Ten Family Village, Fan Jian, who had already retired from the position of the Qing Kingdom's Minister of Revenue for three years, finally returned to his artistic youth . However, the youth was nearing old age .
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