The capital city was located on the west bank of the Tongtian River in the Tong Province. The entire Capital Prefecture was actually just one corner of Tong Province; because of this, Tong Province was also nicknamed Zhili Province.¹

Although the official imperial court of Dazhen did not explicitly endorse this name, in reality they were basically equivalent.

On this day, in the capital city of Changyue Prefecture in Tong Province, officials were rushing to the gates of the government building, to the city gates, and even to the notice boards one some of the streets in the busiest areas.

The Tianyue² Restaurant on Qingfeng Street³ was one of the most famous restaurants in the city. There were many shops around it, including but not limited to restaurants, teahouses, textile stores, and produce stands, making Qingfeng Street one of the most prosperous and wealthy streets in Changyue Prefecture’s capital.

It was now close to dinner time, and the restaurant was bustling with people. There were also some beggars sitting in the corner opposite the restaurant, waiting for good-hearted people to give them alms.

It was quite hot at this time, but it was impossible for beggars to go to areas like the space under the bridge in the dilapidated temple, as they had to beg for food during the day. In these areas, the shaded corners of the walls had become luxurious resting places.

But here, seven or eight beggars of all different ages here are willing to endure the scorching sun, using a few pieces of rags or broken fans and umbrellas to block out the light. In a small shadow in the corner, an old beggar was curled up and sleeping, snoring loudly.

“Go away, go away… Go away, don’t get in the way!”

Several officers with swords at their sides strode towards them from a distance. The two in front opened the path through the crowd, while the two behind them held a large roll of yellow cloth and a bucket respectively.

“Go away, go away. I’m talking to you lot, stop blocking the notice board.”

The first two officials came over, stretched out their legs, and kicked a few of the sleepy beggars lightly to drive them away a little. Then they looked at the group in the corner on the other end, frowned, and didn’t pay them much attention. Then they turned to the two people behind them.

“Just post it here.”

The officer carrying the bucket nodded and stepped forward. He took a brush handle from the bucket, stirred it a few times, then brushed the paste in the bucket back and forth on the wall.

Some beggars nearby looked at the bucket in the official’s hand and swallowed their saliva frequently. They knew that the paste was actually made from rice paste, and was edible.

“Okay, post it.”

The officer at the back began to unfold the yellow cloth, and the two colleagues to either side of him hurriedly helped him hold the corners. Then, the three of them worked together to stick the upper corner of the yellow cloth to the wall, and stuck it down little by little in the direction of the yellow cloth was being unrolled, until the entire cloth was spread out on the notice wall.

Seeing the officers’ actions, many passers-by and brightly-dressed wealthy merchants stopped to watch.

“Hey, this announcement was painted on yellow cloth. It’s a yellow notice!”⁴

“Yeah, did something big happen in the capital?”

“We’ll find out after we read what was written.”

“It’s almost fully posted. This is… a recruitment notice?”

After the officers posted the notice, they looked around and left without any further explanation. The people nearby gathered around even more. An elderly individual looked at the notice, and read it out loud word by word. .

“The Emperor Decrees to the Realm: It has been two hundred years since the establishment of Our Great Nation of Dazhen. We have entered an age of prosperity. The whole realm flourishes under our rule, our country is peaceful, and our people are safe. In the autumn of the year of Yiyou,⁵ during the Emperor’s birthday celebration…”

The older man stroked his beard as he read, occasionally pausing to organize the words that followed so that he could read more smoothly.

“…the edict has hereby been issued, so summon all of this world’s talents and masters to participate in this grand event. In the Ninth Heaven and Ten Gatherings, all immortals and supernatural practitioners shall gather together to celebrate this great milestone of Dazhen and the Son of Heaven!”⁶

After the old man finished reading, the people around him started talking after a few breaths.

“Are they going to hold an Immortal Taoist Conference?”

“Hey, didn’t you see what’s written on the yellow notice? This is a Water and Land Assembly.”⁷

“The capital must be very lively now. Who knows, maybe some immortals might be there!”

“Well, if immortals truly exist, shouldn’t we go and take a look? What if an immortal takes a liking to me and teaches me some magic?”

“Dream on, you stupid pig’s head!”

“What’s wrong with being ugly? Do immortals look at appearances?”

“The title of Heavenly Master is so majestic…”

“What’s the point of that useless title? The thousand taels of gold is the real treasure!”

People nearby were chattering a lot. Some were very excited, others just listened for the novelty, and some were even discussing going to the capital to join in the fun, seeing as it would definitely be more interesting than temple festivals and the like.

But for the beggars in the corner who were having trouble getting enough food and clothing, such a large event was still too far out of their imaginations. They were all listless, except for the old beggar who had been sleeping soundly in the corner, who opened his eyes.

‘Now, at this critical juncture, the Emperor of Dazhen is holding a Water and Land Assembly. I’m afraid that this so-called gathering of immortals might turn into a riot of demons, wont it?’

But after thinking about it, the old beggar felt that this might not be the case. However, he just couldn’t go back to sleep anymore.

“Hooo…”

The old beggar yawned and sat up. He rubbed his eyes, picking out the sleep crust at the corner of his eyes, rubbed it away in his hands a few times, then flicked it all away.

“Grandpa Lu, why aren’t you sleeping? I haven’t gotten enough food for today.”

Upon noticing that the old beggar had woken up, a young beggar who looked like a boy of eleven or twelve years spoke to him. Seeing that the old beggar was about to get up, he hurried over to help him.

“Elder Lu is awake?”

“Elder Lu, please drink some water.”

“I still have something to eat. I just picked up two pieces of pastry, they’re not rotten!”

When the old beggar woke up, the beggars beside him all greeted him and showed concern. The old beggar just took a bamboo tube and drank a few sips of water, then took one of the pastries and stuffed it into his mouth, waving at the others.

“It’s alright, okay, keep it for yourself. This old beggar isn’t hungry yet.”

After saying this, the old beggar stood up, chewed the pastry in his mouth, and stretched lazily. Some pedestrians around them who were still looking at the yellow notice glanced sideways at the group of beggars who had been making some noise.

When the old beggar finished stretching, he waved to the young beggar who had first asked him a question.

“You’er, shall we go to the capital for a stroll?”

The little beggar stood up, holding a broken ceramic bowl, and glanced at the yellow notice off to the side. He wondered whether Grandpa Lu had heard the person reading the yellow notice while he was sleeping. His answer was rather conflicted.

“The capital city… is so far away…”

“Hey, just tell me, do you want to go or not?”

The old beggar put his hand into one of the holes in his clothes, scratched the itch under his armpit, and squinted with one eye closed, asking the little beggar with a smile on his face.

“Yes! It’s the most lively and magnificent place in the world, of course I want to go!”

“Haha… Then let’s go!”

The old beggar patted the young beggar on the back and half pushed him forward.

The little beggar walked a few steps forward and blankly looked back. The beggars behind him were all watching him and the old beggar walk away. He suddenly realized — was he leaving with Elder Lu?

It was at this moment that the beggars behind him called out, wishing them farewell.

“Elder Lu, take care!”

“Be careful on the road, Xiao You!”

“Uncle Lu, look after Xiao You!”

The old beggar smiled and looked back, waved his hand, and casually muttered a few words of “take care of yourself” before continuing to lead Xiao You towards the front of the street.

The group of beggars looked at their retreating backs, and finally sat back down where they were, waiting for the leftovers and other alms in the afternoon.

“Grandpa Lu, what will happen to Uncle Zhang and the others when we leave?”

The old beggar seemed to have many fleas all over his body. He scratched himself in front and behind with one hand. When he heard what the young beggar said, he muttered to himself for a while.

“They don’t rely on us to support them. They are better at begging than you. Besides, despite the fact that a few of them have broken legs and hands, there are no abscesses on their bodies. It won’t be difficult for them to do some decent work. Don’t worry about them.”

Whether they were talented monks or Taoists in the mortal worlds, spirits or demons, even swindlers or charlatans, there were quite a few people like the old beggar who rushed to the Capital Prefecture after learning about the Water and Land Assembly.

Even if there were no evil spirits attending, just the thought of a group of swindlers, charlatans, and bandits gathering in the capital to “join in the celebration” could, to some extent, be considered a “riot of chaotic demons.”

Although Tong Province contained the Capital Prefecture, Changyue Prefecture and the Capital Prefecture were still separated by two other prefectures. The old beggar and the younger child would beg for food along the road after they woke up; when they grew tired, they would find a place that could shelter them from the wind and rain to fall asleep. In any case, the weather was warm, and the nights wouldn’t be too cold.

Even though they were not in a hurry, their pace was not all that slow: in just a month or so, they had already traveled from Changyue Prefecture to the Capital Prefecture on foot.

That day, in the early morning, the two beggars, both young and old, lined up in the long queue outside of the city gate, waiting to enter the city. Because they had slept next to the city gate last night, when they had risen this morning the city gate was not open yet, so the two beggars were at the front of the line.

A farmer carrying a large load behind them in line couldn’t help but move two body-lengths away from them. Not only did the beggars smell strongly, but the older one would scratch himself from time to time, and he was afraid he had lice or fleas on his body.

The old beggar yawned and glanced over the queue from front to back a few times. He saw that the line was growing longer and longer. Sometimes, when he saw a few people who were dressed as “talented masters” in the queue, he couldn’t help but sneer.

“Creeeak… thud-ud-ud-ud-ud…”

“The city gates are open!”

As the soldiers in the city opened the city gates, the entrance to the capital appeared before the eyes of everyone who wanted to enter the city.

Originally, beggars were not allowed to enter through the city gate, but under the gaze of the little beggar, although the old beggar was unkempt and dirty, he gave an imposing air when confronted by the gatekeepers.

The words, “I have come here by imperial decree to attend the Water and Land Assembly” were spoken with vigor, and he did not shy away from the soldiers’ direct gaze. After much hesitation, the soldiers finally let them go.

The capital city was indeed very lively. It was incomparable to Changyue Prefecture on normal days, let alone on days like today, which dazzled the young beggar a little.

But even so, after the two beggars wandered around the city, they still did their old jobs, and prepared to sit down in a suitable place to beg for food.

“Ah! This is a nice place. You can smell aroma of food from both sides of the street, and you can see pedestrians from all sides.”

The old beggar pulled the young beggar over and they walked happily to the corner opposite a teahouse. There were several restaurants nearby. The two sat down and the young beggar took the opportunity to put the broken ceramic bowl in front of them.

Seeing that the old beggar was about to take a nap again, the young beggar looked around, observing his surroundings in curiosity.

‘The capital is really busy and lively, there are hardly any beggars! ’

As he turned his gaze, he noticed a person sitting at the table in front of the teahouse opposite, holding a teacup and watching him calmly. That person was like a special magnet, immediately attracting the young beggar’s attention.

The young beggar was only about four or five zhang away from the man, across a rather narrow street, and his eyesight was good enough to see the man’s appearance clearly. He looked like a scholarly and learned gentleman, but his eyes were half-open. Upon closer inspection, he could see that they were pale in color.

“Grandpa Lu, there seems to be a blind man watching us from over at the teahouse…”

“Hey, silly boy, what do you mean by a blind person watching us? Aren’t you surprised at the words coming out of your mouth?”

“But that’s really how it feels…”

The old beggar scratched another itch. He sat up and glanced in the direction the young beggar was looking. At a single glance, he was stunned, and after turning his head to take a closer look, he couldn’t take his eyes off of him.

Serene and calm, with no ripples in his eyes, no divine light visible, but the body in harmony with nature; a feeling of freshness spontaneously arose when he looked at him, both in the eyes and in the heart.

The old beggar glanced at the young beggar beside him, and mumbled in a daze.

“You’er… This is no ordinary blind man!”

T/n: JY is becoming some kind of beneficial cognitohazard

Everyone, say hello to my second-favorite character, old beggar Lu Niansheng! Of course, poor Old Dragon Ying Hong comes in third place, much to his outrage at the lack of respect on my part XD

1. 直 (zhí): straight/frank, 隶 (lì): in servitude –> “Direct Subordinate Province” or “Directly Governed Province”
2. 天 (tiān): heaven, 悦 (yuè): pleased — “Heaven Pleasing Restaurant” or “Restaurant that can even please Heaven”
3. 庆 (qìng): celebrate, 丰 (fēng): luxurious/charming — “Celebrating Luxury Street”
4. Yellow is a color reserved solely for the imperial family, so a yellow notice means an imperial decree.
5. Another year of the 60 year cycle mentioned previously. Yiyou (乙酉 yǐyǒu) refers to a Rooster zodiac year (yǒu) with the element of wood (yǐ).
6. T/n: *can finally breathe* holy guacamole, the guy is long-winded and pompous as heck *gasps for breath*
7. To explain in a nutshell what the debate is about, “Immortal Taoist Conference” means Taoists only. This “Water and Land Assembly” is calling for literally everyone who might have a smidgin of supernatural knowledge, regardless of what path they follow — everyone, from the water to the land.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read