Beware Of Chicken Chapter 305 v7c52: Private Tour

We managed perhaps an hour or two of slumber that night, yet rising with the sun proved surprisingly manageable. The practice of Cultivation had yielded remarkable results for most of us. While the Lord Magistrate and Lady Wu appeared visibly fatigued, their desire to explore more of the mountain remained undimmed.

"It is but a minor diversion compared to the rigors of managing floods or other calamities," Teacher stated with a casual wave. "A simple stroll through this intriguing locale will hardly tax us, and should the need arise, we can always indulge in a brief nap."

His reasoning was entirely sound.

Our chamber resembled a luxurious penthouse suite, boasting not only multiple beds but also an expansive marble dining table.

In stark contrast to the opulent surroundings and the elaborate feast from the previous evening, the breakfast fare presented today was akin to convenient fast food. Tigu had ventured out with Yin and the Torrent Rider to procure Chao Baozi for everyone, a choice that, frankly, was incredibly satisfying. It was a relaxed affair, with individuals dispersed throughout the room, thoroughly enjoying their dumplings. Meimei was engaged in conversation with Xianghua, imparting wisdom about impending motherhood while they ate.

Even Zhuye was seen with a small dumpling in his grasp – evidently, the establishment offered a children's option. It was only missing a small toy to complete the 'Happy Meal' experience.

"Ah!" he exclaimed, extending his tiny dumpling towards Xiulan, who held him on her lap. Tigu had graciously permitted Xiulan to have her younger brother with her that morning. "Au' Lala! Ahm!"

Xiulan leaned in and took a bite, feigning delightful surprise, eliciting giggles from Zhuye.

"Thank you, Xiaode," Xiulan expressed with a gentle smile. She was the third person to receive a morsel from his dumpling; Washy had been the first, followed by Tigu. The dragon, predictably, had initiated the exchange with a touch of smugness, and now the two were playfully tumbling on the floor, though their scuffles resembled affectionate embraces more than anything.

"Mmm!" he declared with a radiant grin. He reached into the open box before him and retrieved another dumpling. I was genuinely relieved that the little one didn't have a propensity for discarding his food, and despite a minor mess, we could be confident that most of it would end up in his mouth. He took a bite, nodded in approval of the taste, and scanned the table, seeking another companion to share his meal. "Susu! Susu, ah!"

"My gratitude, Young Master," Suyan responded, carefully accepting the dumpling from his hand. A subtle smile graced her usually impassive features as she played along.

Another dumpling was procured, and Zhuye consumed the majority of it, clearly relishing its flavor. When only a small portion remained, he offered it once more.

"Bu! Buuuuuuu!" he vocalized, elongating the sound like a hum. The nearby bees promptly took flight, hovering around him. "Ah!"

The bees appeared momentarily perplexed. They were, after all, incapable of consuming the offered item. Nevertheless, they accepted it, with three of them seizing their prize and ascending into the air, parading it around the room like a trophy while the others flew in a precise formation.

Eventually, Zhuye seemed to reach his fill and began offering dumplings to others, even to those whose names he didn't quite recall.

"Ah?" he inquired, pointing.

"That is Uncle Rags," Xiulan informed Zhuye. The grizzled man looked surprisingly taken aback by the introduction, then blushed and sheepishly scratched the back of his neck.

"Unc' Aggy," Zhuye decided, extending a dumpling.

The scruffy man chuckled. "Ha! He possesses his father's generous spirit!"

Uncle Wei – the boisterous one – was next.

I watched with a smile, allowing the tranquil moment to persist.

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Then, it was time to resume our roles as cultivators as we ventured onto the Dueling Peaks. I assumed the mantle of Master Rou, and Xiulan became the Grand Marshal.

I proceeded down the corridors arm-in-arm with Meiling, accompanied by Xiulan, Gou Ren, and Delun, along with Teacher, Lady Wu, Suyan, and Xue Ji. The rest were obligated to return to their respective duties. While they could have joined us for the excursion, it would have resulted in a significantly larger workload upon their return.

It was somewhat disheartening to forgo additional time with them, but we were scheduled to reconvene later that day. My initial request was to inspect the area where Gou Ren and Delun were presently engaged in their work.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"This is the primary levitation shaft," Delun announced, gesturing expansively. The cavernous space resonated with activity; numerous individuals were engaged in diligent work. Some members of Delun's sect meticulously carved the stone, while simian creatures transported materials to and fro. Others, seemingly unaffiliated, were engrossed in studying blueprints. All paused and offered respectful bows as our contingent entered.

Ordinarily, I would have instructed them to disregard my presence and continue their tasks. However, in this instance, such an action was impractical. My own prior work experience had taught me that maintaining a semblance of normalcy when an important visitor was present was virtually impossible.

Consequently, I returned their greeting, and they momentarily joined our exploration. Zhuye twitched his nose a few times, but the assembled cultivators seemed to be within his tolerance limits.

I had viewed countless documentaries about colossal construction projects in my previous life, but witnessing the inner workings of the mountain was an entirely different experience.

Meimei, meanwhile, gazed upwards, attempting to conceal her undisguised awe at the immense scale of our surroundings.

"I recall when we first constructed this. I accidentally dropped a water-filled bladder from the summit and nearly struck Ruolan with it. She remained displeased with me for months afterward," Tianlan's voice echoed within my mind as he chuckled.

The main levitation shaft was a direct conduit, stretching from the mountain's base to its apex—akin to a gargantuan elevator shaft. It was evident, however, that this structure had endured considerable wear over time. Massive chains lay coiled at the room's periphery, complemented by bores etched into the mountain's flank to accommodate them. Titanic lockstones protruded from the walls at regular intervals, serving to secure the arena in place once it achieved a predetermined altitude. Each of these stones likely weighed hundreds of thousands of tons. The stone floor bore the indelible stains of countless years of exertion—sweat and blood—from cultivators who had manually hauled the entire arena upwards.

Furthermore, a palpable Qi permeated the atmosphere. Crystals were embedded within the walls, and luminous characters were directly inscribed into the stone. Much of the wall cladding had been stripped away, revealing even more intricate and peculiar internal mechanisms.

Delun and Gou commenced their explanation of the ongoing work, which involved extensive chiseling and the repair of formations. They indicated that the restoration of full functionality to the levitation shafts would likely require several years.

For instance, the "slow drop" feature was currently non-operational. The arena would simply descend rapidly until it reached a specific elevation, at which point it would abruptly decelerate—as if encountering an unforeseen cushion of air beneath it.

While this phenomenon posed no issue for cultivators, it would almost certainly prove fatal for any mortals occupying the stands.

"We are considering retaining the chains for the Dueling Peaks Tournament even after the repairs are complete," Xiulan stated. "The visual of the Elders elevating the next generation, with the contestants cooperating, is considered by many to be an essential element of the tournament. Furthermore, the victor is expected to assist in lowering the arena back down."

It served, if nothing else, as a potent display of unity—and the image of Elders working in concert to elevate the rising generation was indeed powerful.

"There is a similar shaft on the opposite side of the mountain. How long will the entirety of this restoration project take?" Meiling inquired.

"Restoring the majority of its functions will require at least a decade. We will likely continue working for at least the next fifty years to see the entire project through to completion," Delun replied.

For cultivators, engaging with such a monumental endeavor, this timeframe represented both a remarkably brief and an extraordinarily long duration.

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Our group continued its passage through the mountain's interior, observing additional systems, auxiliary chambers, what appeared to be a crystal-based jumbotron utilized for recording and replaying matches, and even a rudimentary museum. This museum housed several significant historical documents and depictions on the walls, purportedly created by the First Emperor—in this context, referring to Xiaoshi.

Subsequently, we proceeded to the mountain's core, venturing into the primary halls where the bulk of the administrative duties were executed.

It was at this juncture that we began encountering a greater number of individuals. All of them were attired in blue tunics, bearing their sect's insignia over their hearts and the character for 'Azure' emblazoned on their backs.

"Grand Marshal! Master Rou!" exclamations of greeting would ring out as people stepped aside from the pathways, offering bows. The majority of these individuals belonged to the Younger Generation, and notably, all first addressed Xiulan.

Their pronouncements were infused with unfeigned reverence; the esteem in which they held her was unmistakable.

Xiulan reciprocated their salutations, addressing most of them by name. While these exchanges were brief, she occasionally posed inquiries—regarding the well-being of a family member, the progress in mastering a particular technique they were struggling with, the timing of their upcoming patrol, and other similar matters.

Observing these interactions was akin to witnessing the Lord Magistrate strolling through the thoroughfares of Verdant Hill, his beard stroked thoughtfully, a gentle smile gracing his features.

Eventually, she guided us to the end of a corridor and gestured towards a door.

"And finally, this is my office," Xiulan announced, swinging the door open to reveal a well-appointed room. It was a pleasant space, undeniably a workspace, and one that showed clear signs of frequent use.

"Grand Marshal! Welcome back!" Sarnai exclaimed, offering a polite bow at the threshold. "And good morning to you as well, Master Rou, Lady Meiling."

Xiulan offered a slight nod. "Good morning to you too."

"Good morning, Sarnai," I replied, feeling a sense of accomplishment for having recalled her name.

Her eyes widened, and a flush crept up her cheeks. She bowed deeply. "Ah-ah- Lovely weather we're having today!" she stammered, immediately wincing. It seemed being in the presence of a "big shot" was rather intimidating. I felt a pang of regret for startling her.

"It truly is. Thank you for spending it indoors. Xiulan has mentioned that your assistance is invaluable," I stated.

"Thank you, Master Rou! Thank you, Grand Marshal!" she responded. Regaining her composure, she let out a breath and turned her attention back to Xiulan. "Also, as you requested, Grand Marshal, I have made all the necessary arrangements!"

"Thank you, Sarnai. Might I have a moment alone with Master Rou, please?" Xiulan inquired.

The woman nodded and discreetly withdrew.

We proceeded further into her office, and my gaze fell upon her desk. It was neat, tidy, and... piled high with a rather substantial amount of paperwork.

"Hmm, less than I had anticipated," Teacher remarked, stroking his beard.

Xiulan let out a light laugh.

"In the beginning, I had to review every single document... before I managed to establish a streamlined system. Nowadays, only the most critical documents reach my desk. However, if something lands on my desk, it typically signifies a task that requires significant time. These, along with meetings, consume the majority of my attention. Due to my actions regarding the crystals, I have earned the trust to serve as an impartial judge... and I strive to uphold the confidence people place in me."

It sounded incredibly demanding. Yet, at this moment, there was no sign of weariness. She was the Grand Marshal now, her blue eyes practically glittering with intensity.

"What is the major project currently underway?" Meimei inquired, and Xiulan proceeded to show us, retrieving documents, a scroll detailing facts and figures, blueprints for the repair of nearby structures, and a comprehensive inventory of required supplies.

"Presently, the endeavor consuming the most time and resources, as Rags mentioned, involves integrating the independent cultivators who have joined us, as well as the newly awakened. It's still quite nascent, but we aim to offer the most appealing incentives and provide them with a sense of belonging, thereby discouraging them from resorting to banditry—as Rags has noted some discontent regarding the sects' all-encompassing control. I have an idea brewing. Or rather, the initial stages of one. We possess a modest collection of ancient techniques with no clear lineage or successors, and we intend to utilize these as a foundation for our independents who opt not to join an existing sect." She met my gaze directly. "This is not solely the domain of the sects. This realm belongs to them as well."

Her voice resonated with conviction, filled not only with care but with genuine concern.

Xiulan possessed the power to effect change, and thus, she was actively doing so. She held a clear objective, a vision for a brighter future... and was dedicating all her efforts to achieving it.

We settled in, content to listen as Xiulan articulated her thoughts—simply being present and allowing her to voice her ideas to us.

...she was truly remarkable.