Chapter 123, Immense Fame and Fortune

Translator: StarReader

 

Gusu Magistrate Wang’s official boat barely touched the shore, and over a hundred constables, adorned in red and gold, banging gongs and drums, carried signboards, followed by a hundred baggage carriers.

 

Zhou Village’s waterways buzzed with activity.

 

The village women, fishermen, Butcher Zhang and his wife, matchmakers, and young widows all hastily stepped aside, paying respects to Magistrate Wang.

 

Father Su and Mother Su panicked, attempting to retreat to the roadside to kowtow to the magistrate, but were stopped by Su Chen’s hands. The elderly couple remained firmly seated at the table, unable to move even a fraction.

 

“Greetings, Immortal Su!”

 

Magistrate Wang, seeing Su Chen seated in the center of the banquet, displayed a look of excitement on his face, quickly stepping forward to offer a deep bow to Su Chen.

 

The ones next to Immortal Su that were sitting calmly could only be his parents.

 

“Immortal Father, Immortal Mother!”

 

Magistrate Wang quickly offered a deep bow to Father Su and Mother Su beside Su Chen.

 

Since Butcher Zhang arrived, Father Su and Mother Su had become somewhat bewildered, unable to comprehend what was happening. Seeing Magistrate Wang kowtow to their son, and then to them, made them feel as though the world was spinning, a hazy, dreamlike state.

 

The Su family had fished for generations, enduring a lifetime of poverty, and the highest-ranking official they had ever seen was a village head and constable. They had never encountered the esteemed Gusu County magistrate, let alone had said magistrate show them such reverence.

 

Of course, no one dared to suggest that the elderly couple was behaving inappropriately. They needed to do nothing, only accept Magistrate Wang’s audience.

 

“Magistrate Wang, what is the meaning of this display?”

 

Su Chen looked at Magistrate Wang, his expression unreadable.

 

He had returned quietly to see his parents, fearing that too much commotion would disrupt the peaceful days he had hoped to spend with his brother and sister.

 

But with Magistrate Wang making such a grand display, Zhou Village was unlikely to experience a moment of tranquility again.

 

Magistrate Wang quickly plastered on a sycophantic smile, attempting to ingratiate himself. “Immortal Su, it isn’t my intention to disturb your peace! But you were instrumental in the campaign to wipe out the Whale Gang, a tremendous feat for the court’s officials, for the people of Wu Region, and for Wu Region’s martial youth!

 

“The credit for eradicating these Whale Gang pirates is a monumental accomplishment, one that no one would dare claim if you didn’t accept it! The wealthy merchants and common folk of Gusu City can now travel along the waterways with peace of mind, and they all ardently wish to present you with a small token of their gratitude.

 

“Look at those hundreds of loads of the finest silks, porcelain, and goods. It isn’t from me, but a gift from the people of Gusu City, all for you.”

 

“After the battle, you vanished without a trace. Appearing briefly on Mist Terrace and then gone, causing us much distress in our search.”

 

“I only just received news from Team Leader Zhang, and I’m bringing forth what was already prepared, arriving first to pay my respects to Immortal and to prepare Zhou Village somewhat.

 

“Shortly, Imperial Envoy Wang and Governor Zhao will arrive bearing the court’s rewards and honors. Even those martial groups, Medicine King Group Elder Sun, Heaven Falcon Group Han Ya, Caravan Guards Li Shuo, and other Grandmasters will lead their disciples to Zhou Village to pay respects to Immortal, to express their gratitude for the life-saving grace shown in the Vastest Lake battle!”

 

Su Chen fell silent.

 

Since they were here, he would acquiesce for now.

 

Magistrate Wang quickly instructed the three teams of constables to clear out the largest residence in town, the family and children of Master Zhou, emptying the entire estate.

 

It would be a respectable place to welcome Governor Zhao and the court’s Imperial Envoy Wang, facilitating everyone’s ability to pay respects to Immortal.

 

…

 

Upon the waterways from Gusu County City to Zhou Village, three massive official vessels were steadily navigating, carrying a vast amount of goods bound for Zhou Village.

 

Zhao Juzhen, upon learning of Immortal Su’s appearance in Zhou Village, grew anxious and immediately set off with the officials from the governor’s office.

 

He had people searching for Su Chen for days, but to no avail.

 

Now, he received word again that Su Chen is in Zhou Village, and he was worried Su Chen might vanish once more, so he hurried along with Imperial Envoy Wang.

 

Zhao Juzhen couldn’t bear the thought of arriving to find nothing.

 

“Hurry! Don’t delay! faster!”

 

Finding a boat too slow, driven by urgency, he switched to a palanquin and urged eight constables to carry it at full speed.

 

“Governor Zhao has arrived!”

 

“Imperial Envoy Wang has arrived!”

 

Dozens of constables carrying two palanquins moved swiftly, followed by three to four hundred soldiers running at full tilt.

 

Wu Region Governor Zhao Juzhen, accompanied by officials from all thirteen counties of the Wu Region, arrived with a retinue of at least a thousand people.

 

Furthermore, the leaders and high-ranking members of various martial groups within the Wu Region arrived in droves, riding horses to pay their respects to Immortal Su.

 

…

 

Governor Zhao, Imperial Envoy Wang, and the leaders of all the martial groups from the Wu Region surrounded Immortal Su and his family, gathered in a large courtyard in Zhou Village.

 

Su Chen entered the main hall, took his place of honor, and glanced at Zhao Juzhen, the Imperial Envoy, and the others, his expression calm and detached. “Lord Zhao, why have you come to Zhou Village?”

 

“I pay my respects to Immortal Su! There are two matters regarding this visit. Firstly, some talismans and other items were left behind, and I seek Immortal’s advice. Secondly, there’s a bounty from the court for suppressing bandits, in silver and goods, which I must personally deliver to you, Immortal. And secondly, it concerns the current Emperor.”

 

Zhao Juzhen hastily performed a deep bow.

 

As a court official of the fourth grade, stationed to govern a region, it was absolutely unthinkable for him to kneel before anyone, apart from the court’s reverential bowing to the Great Tang Emperor and the respectful kowtowing to his parents and ancestors at home.

 

Of course, Immortals were a very special exception. Immortals was akin to Heaven! To bow to Heaven was to offer reverence to the cosmos.

 

Zhao Juzhen explained his purpose after paying his respects to Su Chen.

 

Soon, officials presented a wooden box containing some talismans and miscellaneous items left behind by Daoist Han Shan. Several heavy crates were also brought in by guards, filled with tens of thousands of taels of silver.

 

Su Chen did not decline.

 

“The current Emperor possesses a desire to seek Dao and attain immortality and intends to offer the gifts befitting an Imperial Teacher to Immortal, hoping you will relocate to the capital, Chang’an.”

 

Zhao Juzhen then continued.

 

Within the courtyard, leaders of martial groups and martial artists murmured in astonishment.

 

The emperor seeking immortality, the court bestowing the title of Imperial Teacher—that signified immense power and boundless wealth. It was countless times better than staying in this small Wu Region.

 

“Would Immortal Su be willing to journey to Chang’an and serve as a guardian immortal?”

 

Zhao Juzhen inquired respectfully and cautiously.

 

“I have no interest in the martial world or the court. What you offer is not what I desire. What you can provide, I do not want. Governor, you may return.”

 

Su Chen said indifferently.

 

He did not decline the gifts but simply accepted them with detachment.

 

The emperor desired to seek the immortal path.

 

But the way of immortal cultivation, he himself had only just begun to glimpse, and he didn’t know what to do next. How could he possibly guide the current Emperor?

 

“This…”

 

Zhao Juzhen, Envoy Wang, and the various leaders exchanged bewildered glances.

 

A direct rejection?

 

Immortal Su was devoted to the immortal path, looking down on the mortal world’s boundless wealth. This was understandable. The endless splendor of the mortal world and the supreme fame and fortune were only useful to commoners.

 

Su Chen threw those ten thousand taels of gold last night, proving that boundless riches were as worthless as dirt in his eyes. They simply didn’t possess what he desired.

 

After all, they hadn’t truly encountered an immoral, nor were they attached to the mortal world.

 

Envoy Wang and Zhao Juzhen looked at each other.

 

They had alternative preparations to appease the Immortal. Since the Immortal didn’t want it, surely the Immortal’s family would need these things. The immortal would see and would surely show some sign of acknowledgement.

 

Imperial Envoy Wang, with a smile plastered on his face, asked the Su family’s second son, “Little brother, what do you want? To become a general, a high-ranking official in the court?”

 

The child was bewildered, unsure what a general was, and said, “I want to eat meat.”

 

Zhao Juzhen quickly interjected, “Little brother, do you want to study?”

 

The boy thought for a moment and this time nodded seriously, “Yes. Father said that scholars are the most capable.”

 

Zhao Juzhen beamed, “I am a scholar of the current dynasty! I, Zhao Juzhen, will be the teacher of Su Erlang! Bring him forward! Change the Su family’s youngest son to be the first-class family child in the Wu Region.”

 

Envoy Wang’s heart sank; he was utterly dismayed.

 

This Zhao was far too skilled at poaching talent. [How could you, a scion of a Zhao Clan, a scholar of the current dynasty, act as the personal instructor for a child of eight or nine? Yet you still maintain any sense of propriety?]

 

Envoy Wang quickly turned to the Su girl and said, “Girl, what do you desire?”

 

She shrank back, hiding behind her parents.

 

“Father Su, Mother Su, what are your wishes?”

 

Envoy Wang was helpless and could only ask the elder couple.

 

Father Su thought for a long while, stammering, “I only know fishing; I’m not accustomed to anything else. These past two years, I’ve been thinking about getting a bigger fishing boat so I can better fish on the lake!”

 

Suddenly, all the officials present, the martial artists, erupted in laughter.

 

With Immortal Su as his son, would he still need to fish on the lake for the rest of his life? It was likely the fish would jump into the net themselves!

 

“Father Su, wait! Someone, bring the deeds to the constable’s fields, land, mountains, and lakes!”

 

Zhao Juzhen quickly said.

 

He supported Father Su and led the officials out of the courtyard, pointing to a lake in the distance and instructing, “Father Su, look at that lake! Fifteen miles of it, from the surface of the lake to the fish in the lake to a blade of grass at the bottom of the lake, from now on, generations will belong to your Su family, and it will be renamed Su Immortal Lake.”

 

He pointed to a nearby piece of land and said, “From this land, divide a hundred acres and establish a large Su family estate to be Su Immortal Manor!”

 

He pointed to a distant plot of fertile land and said, “Divide Zhou Village’s ten thousand acres of fertile land, and return it to the Su family!”

 

He pointed to a nearby mountain and said, “Divide Zhou Village’s mountain forest into ten thousand acres, and rename it Su Immortal Mountain, returning it to the Su family!

 

“With all these deeds—signing lake contracts, land deeds, forest deeds, house deeds—each a copy—to reward Immortal Su, for the court, for the people of the Wu Region, for the Wu Region martial, establishing a peerless, astonishing feat!”

 

Beside him, Gusu City Magistrate Wang listened, feeling as though he were bleeding from his heart.

 

Within Gusu County, there simply wasn’t any surplus, unclaimed farmland. All of this would have to be carved from the Wang family’s estate.

 

Governor Zhao had previously told him, “The land and forests allocated to the Su family must come from your Wang family. This calamity involving the Whale Gang—we’re sparing the Wang clan this time. Otherwise, the source of the Whale Gang’s trouble would fall on your Wang family to bear.”

 

Magistrate Wang was in agonizing pain, but he had no choice but to agree. Otherwise, the court’s flogging would be even more painful for the Wang family.

 

“Just… how much is this?”

 

Father Su and Mother Su seemed dazed, as if they were dreaming.

 

They had lived their lives fishing, residing on this old, small fishing boat that could barely hold a family, with no foothold on land at all. They simply didn’t know how much ten miles of lake and all those acres meant.

 

Butcher Zhang, standing nearby, quickly fawned, “Uncle Su, look over there—whatever good land you can see, it’s all Su family land from now on! Whatever water you can see, that’s your lake. That whole mountain—it’s almost as impressive as Medicine King Mountain—that’s your mountain. How big is your hundred-acre manor? You could probably fit a thousand people in it. Your entire life—and your descendants for three to five generations—you won’t have to worry about anything!”

 

On the court’s side, matters were finally concluded.

 

Soon, the four major groups of the Wu Region and numerous minor groups eagerly presented the various gifts they had prepared in advance.

 

The remaining martial artists stepped forward, bowing, pricking their fingers, and swearing an oath in blood. They dared not approach Immortal Su, but they sought out Father Su and Mother Su.

 

“We owe Immortal Su a life-saving debt during the battle on Vastest Lake. From now on, we recognize Father Su as the patriarch of our Wu Region martial group. Whatever happens to the Su family is our concern. As long as we live, we will never allow anyone to harm a single hair of the Wu Region Su family.

 

“Father Su, your unworthy sons and grandchildren pay their respects! We swear this oath in tears, and we will never dare to go back on it.

 

“We are willing to serve the Su family for generations, to protect the Su family!”

 

Father Su was panicked and dared not accept their kneeling homage. He quickly helped them to their feet.

 

Su Chen watched, letting out a silent sigh.

 

In the blink of an eye, the Su family had become an inevitable force, a first-rate power in the Wu Region with countless affiliated clans, even more powerful than those established Wu Region clans.

 

Those who sought to ingratiate themselves in the martial world were like ministers crossing a river; you couldn’t chase them away, no matter how hard you tried. This wasn’t entirely to appease Su Chen but rather to follow the rise of this new force in the Wu Region, as they could reap many benefits themselves. Affiliated clansmen could travel freely across the lands.

 

Su Chen knew he couldn’t dissuade them, so he simply let it be.

 

That day, construction began on the Su family’s sprawling estate of over a hundred acres in Zhou Village. Hundreds of craftsmen from Gusu City, along with over a thousand laborers, conjured a grand manor of blue bricks and black tiles from the barren countryside.

 

Above the main gate of the Su manor, a large plaque proudly displayed the three characters of Su Immortal Manor.

 

Flanking it were the two large plaques with gold lettering proclaiming ‘True Immortals of the Wu Region’ and ‘Bestowing Blessings Upon the People.’ There were also two large stone lions, dozens of strong men who had transported them by boat from Gusu City to guard the manor.

 

…

 

Night fell.

 

Taking advantage of the small number of people around during the quiet hours, Su Chen met with Father Su and Mother Su and handed them a sealed silken pouch.

 

“This pouch contains the burial locations of five chests; do not open it. My younger brother is now apprenticed to Governor Zhao. When he passes the imperial examinations, achieves the ranks of governor, and has great success at the age of thirty, when he is acting with prudence, pass this pouch to him. Let him unearth these five chests.

 

“As for Sister, let her become an apprentice to Leader Han of the Heaven Falcon Group to study the martial path. She will remain with you in the future and care for you. I have already privately instructed Leader Han about this; you need not worry. The four major groups are indebted to me and will look out for you in these years.”

 

Su Chen entrusted them with his family’s care.

 

He couldn’t remain at home to care for them.

 

Once he left, he wasn’t concerned about much else. His parents had limited vision, and his sister was too young. He worried that sudden wealth would leave them vulnerable to manipulation, unable to maintain control, and recklessly squandering their fortune—that even a mountain of gold and silver could be exhausted within a decade.

 

No matter how much land and wealth lay before him, if it couldn’t be protected, it would all come to nothing in the end.

 

But as long as his brother was in the company of Governor Zhao Juzhen, he would learn invaluable skills, and leaving behind those five large chests would allow the Su family to rise.

 

Father Su and Mother Su nodded repeatedly, carefully concealing them.

 

Over these past few days, Su Chen also handled a few more miscellaneous matters. He presented the several batches of Golden Warrior Talisman that Daoist Han Shan had refined to the governor and the Imperial Envoy, as well as to several influential leaders, as a form of repayment. They wouldn’t be able to use the other talismans, only this one.