Chapter 24

The vast expanse of the lake stretched for eight hundred miles, its clear waters merging with the blue sky.

The praise of literati was not exaggerated; the mighty river, emerging from the mouth of a pot and passing through the Heavenly Gorge, had traveled a thousand miles of fertile land to reach this point.

Everywhere was good farmland, where people thrived, waterways were dense, and commerce flourished, forming a prosperous economic foundation that supported the cultural and literary splendor.

On this morning, master and servant set out from the Ye residence, boarding a passenger boat and sailing down the clear waters, eventually merging with the river.

The river's surface was broad and shimmering, with white sails everywhere. Besides the numerous flat-bottomed merchant ships, there were also multi-story boats carrying scholars and famous courtesans, the sounds of music and strings never ceasing.

A hundred boats raced, a thousand sails competed, painting a beautiful picture.

Ye Qing stood alone at the bow of the boat, lost in deep thought.

The Peaceful Lake was not naturally formed but was a relic of a great calamity. In those days, Daoist lords vied for destiny, and the three teachings contended for the world. For a time, heroes gathered, each relying on their destiny and engaging in battles!

This place was a battlefield, and the fall of a great deity had split the earth's crust, forming this vast lake.

After hundreds of thousands of years, many unique customs and scenic spots remained around the Peaceful Lake. Even now, there were ancient city ruins in the lake, and the Dragon Palace was built based on these!

Thinking back to those days, countless heroes galloped on the battlefield, truly stirring the blood, making one wish to join in.

"Master, are we almost there?" Qianqian, holding the cabin door, her face pale, her bright eyes and white teeth giving her an indescribable charm, attracted many gazes from the deck.

But seeing Ye Qing in his student's attire, these gazes quickly turned away—slim and small, not yet fully grown, not a particularly outstanding beauty, no need to invite trouble.

Only after Ye Qing's stern gaze did he urge, "We're almost there. Come out for some fresh air; staying in the cabin will only make you feel worse."

He didn't know Qianqian would get seasick, and there was no seasickness medicine at the moment, so he could only let her rest and avoid public places.

At this time, the girl's development was delayed due to poverty, but only Ye Qing knew how beautiful she would be in a few years, even in his previous life, it was almost impossible to protect her in the mortal world, which made him more vigilant.

The river breeze blew, but Qianqian, unaware of these thoughts, gathered her disheveled hair behind her ear and carefully moved to the bow: "Are we there yet?"

"Yes, the view ahead is magnificent, come and see."

Qianqian frowned at the slightly yellow river water, suppressing her dizziness, and when she looked again, she involuntarily held her breath!

The river widened and cleared before her, and the riverbed expanded from three miles to six, then nine, stretching to the horizon, the water and sky merging, leaving one speechless.

Qianqian had never seen such a sight and murmured, "So big, is this really a lake, not the sea?"

At the confluence of the river and the lake, waves crashed, causing the boat to shake.

Ye Qing reached out to support her, similarly admiring the vast waters: "It's a lake, eight hundred miles wide, one of the largest lakes in the Nine Provinces."

Reeds along the shore withered and swayed in the wind, while fishing boats dotted the lake, rowing and casting nets, adding a touch of human life to the grandeur.

And the last touch was the spiritual energy: the eight hundred miles of Peaceful Lake, a place of natural beauty and scenic splendor!

Clouds and mists rose, storms came and went, and life thrived, gathering into a rich spiritual energy. Even mortals would benefit and produce more heroes, let alone cultivators who found it irresistibly attractive!

But the Dragon Lord of Peaceful Lake held a high position, a local governor, and cultivators dared not act rashly even hundreds of thousands of years ago, let alone now?

"The dragon I seek..." Ye Qing paused, remembering that this was the Dragon Lord's domain, and it was unwise to mention his name, so he vaguely continued: "Mr. Dragon often resides here and frequently tours the shore. If we are careful, we can meet him, but I fear it will take too long and we will miss the August banquet."

Perhaps due to the calm waters of the large lake or Ye Qing's support, Qianqian's face gradually regained its rosy color. She pondered Ye Qing's words and her eyes lit up: "Master, if you want to meet him, you can use this..."

She glanced at the tourists behind, not elaborating, and gently pressed Ye Qing's hand to her chest. To outsiders, this seemed extremely intimate.

Many passengers glanced over, and an old man sighed, "In broad daylight, people's hearts are not as pure as they used to be!"

Ye Qing was startled, feeling a metal object, and realized it was the golden cup!

The last time, the county magistrate had met him through a poem.

"Ah, Qianqian is the smartest and most considerate!" Ye Qing, no longer interested in the scenery, grabbed the girl's hand and pulled her into the cabin.

The cabin was small but tidy, a VIP room.

Qianqian took out the copper cup from her chest, her heart full of excitement, and asked softly, "Is it to obtain the invitation to the banquet?"

There were no secrets between them, except for the matter of reincarnation. Seeing her excited look, Ye Qing became calm, holding the copper cup and sitting silently.

The faint sound of water flowed beneath their feet, vast and serene.

"This is the 'Eight Hundred Miles of Peaceful Lake'..."

Ye Qing listened to the sound, gazing at the golden cup, and sighed, "To meet him, we need a cup of green destiny, which might attract him, but the golden color cannot move such an existence... Now, we don't even have a trace of green destiny in this cup."

"Moreover, we only have a hint of gold!" Ye Qing said with a sense of melancholy.

Recalling the legends of his previous life, but legends were just legends. In the Dragon Palace Banquet, it was exaggerated as if seen firsthand, but the specific details were not clear.

To seize someone's destiny and opportunity, how could it be so easy?

Qianqian's expression calmed, and in the quiet sound of the water, she only looked at the frowning Ye Qing, feeling an impulse to comfort and encourage him with all she had.

Her face flushed slightly, her clear eyes brightening.

"Qianqian... just a small maid, doesn't understand these mysteries, but... Qianqian will change herself!" The blush spread to her white ears, and her voice dropped to a whisper, almost inaudible: "As long as Master still needs Qianqian, Qianqian will try her best!"

Ye Qing was stunned, looking at the sixteen-year-old girl for the first time with a serious gaze.

A maid's survival had its own logic in her small world. How could a穿越者 (穿越者 means "穿越者" in Chinese, which can be translated as "time traveler" or "穿越者" in English, but in this context, it's better to use "time traveler") standing at the top of the sky ever notice such silent contributions?

Ye Qing smiled bitterly, saying, "Qianqian has given me a lesson."

Qianqian hurriedly said, "Master, that's not what I meant, I mean, I mean..."

"No, I am sincerely grateful. Among three people, there must be one who can be my teacher, a wise saying of the sage." Ye Qing hugged her, "Qianqian, you are my person, don't underestimate yourself!"

Qianqian felt a sweetness in her heart, leaning into his lean, steady, and warm embrace, feeling her urgency ease.

But she heard Ye Qing continue, "I, Ye Qing, am still just a student. I can't shake anyone, but I can change myself... If the mountain won't come to me, I will go to the mountain."

The Peaceful Lake covered thousands of square kilometers, bordering five counties, with hundreds of locations. It was impossible to calculate where the Dragon Lord would appear, but based on his previous life, he could narrow it down to one place.

"The rest is a matter of luck."

"No, it's not just luck. I have three thousand chapters of poetry and prose from Earth. If they can be spread, how could the Dragon Lord not recognize them?"

"To seek an audience through people is as difficult as climbing to the sky, but to seek an audience through literature, the chances are much higher!"

But as he said this, the layer of golden destiny in the copper cup disappeared. Qianqian couldn't see it, but Ye Qing could, and he felt a bit heartache, knowing that influencing the movements of higher beings was a taboo in any world.

Even using poetry to seek this opportunity was costly, but compared to the huge benefits, this was the most economical method.

"Qianqian!" With his mind made up, Ye Qing called.

"En."

"Qianqian, are you still seasick? After we land, you should rest well... uh, don't let seasickness ruin your appetite, there are many delicious foods around here!"

"Master, you look so scheming..."

"..." Ye Qing was speechless.

After another half an hour, the passenger boat arrived at Peaceful County. Looking out, there were thousands of households, with cargo ships coming and going, and hundreds of small bridges, truly a picturesque place of small bridges and flowing water.

"Anchoring, passengers can disembark, wishing you a safe journey—" The boat owner's long call echoed, and many scholars and merchants disembarked. Ye Qing, with Qianqian, followed the crowd ashore.

"Let's take a walk here. Although it's a rural area, it's a commercial hub, with bustling streets spanning ten miles... Ah, I'm sorry, Qianqian, I haven't taken you shopping yet."

"Sure." Qianqian replied, her eyes bright with joy, and the hundred taels of silver in her bag also contributed to her straightforward answer.

As their family's situation improved, her own destiny subtly changed, gradually revealing a more dignified demeanor.

Ye Qing smiled, holding her hand, and entered the bustling crowd, wandering through the streets of this prosperous place.

Qianqian was happy, laughing and chatting, and Ye Qing watched her glow, feeling content.

As dusk approached, Ye Qing saw a five-story wine shop by the lake, very impressive, with a black signboard reading "Lakeside Tower."

Ye Qing couldn't help but smile, "Good calligraphy!"

Though it was calligraphy, he was actually very pleased, as he had been looking for this place for a while.

Qianqian entered, and the noise downstairs made her frown. A waiter greeted them, and Ye Qing smiled, "Give us a clean room in the back, I'll stay here for a few days, and then lead me to a seat upstairs."

He took out a silver ingot and tossed it, and the waiter, seeing it was a five-tael official silver, nine-eight pure, immediately smiled and bowed, "Thank you, sir. There is a private room in the back, and I will arrange it. There are also private seats on the third floor, I'll lead you there."

The three went upstairs, and behind the screens, there were poems on the screens and walls, of varying quality but all above average, giving them an idea.

They ordered four dishes and sat down. Ye Qing, lost in thought, looked out at the vast Peaceful Lake, its unique scenery, and drank several cups, then smiled, "This is the Peaceful Lake. In such a scene, with wine and song, how can there be no poetry?"

He raised his chopsticks, tapped his cup, and sang loudly:

Looking east to Peaceful Mountain, the dragon temple rises halfway.

Clouds rise on all sides, the central peak leans against the red sun.