"In the Thunder Mansion, everything is governed by rules and regulations. You enter at dawn and leave at dusk. If you need to go out temporarily, you must ask for leave. Each month is divided into three periods: early, middle, and late. You work one day and rest two, but if there’s a shortage of hands for external duties, those on rest may be called upon. If you’re on external duty for several months or longer, you’ll be granted compensatory rest upon returning and exchanging the command token."
"During duty days, focus on the affairs of the mansion. Rest days are for absorbing spiritual energy, gathering thunder essence, tempering your body, and refining treasures. Do you understand?"
Cheng Xinzhan bowed and replied, "This disciple understands."
"However, today is already the ninth day of the second month. I’m on duty for the early period, and after tomorrow, I’ll be on rest. Here’s what we’ll do: take these two books, Thunder Mansion Duties and Divine Thunder Absorption Method, and study them.
These are introductory texts explaining the workings of the Thunder Mansion and how to absorb thunder essence. Note down anything you don’t understand. In five days, come to the One Heart Pavilion at Shuangping on Juji Mountain, and I’ll answer your questions and teach you the basics of thunder techniques.
Next month, I’ll formally take you on duty and external assignments. Does that sound good?"
Daoist Jianxian took two books from his office and handed them to Cheng Xinzhan.
Cheng Xinzhan accepted them and nodded in agreement.
After receiving the books, he asked, "May I ask, Master, do you know Daoist Jianping?"
Jianxian replied, "Of course I do. Why do you ask?"
"Master, my close friend from Xiaowan Mountain, He Bingkun, is registered under Daoist Jianping. I’ve been traveling for a while, and before I left, he had already established his own residence. He should now be a true disciple of the Nine Heavens Thunder Mansion."
Jianxian smiled and nodded, "I know who you’re talking about—Jiyuan, right? Jianping is in the Ganlin Office of the Penglai Division. They’re on the fourth floor. Go up and find them. Familiarize yourself with the place. I won’t take you there."
Cheng Xinzhan agreed and then took his leave.
The Nine Heavens Thunder Mansion was vast, with staircases every hundred steps.
He left the Zhuxia Office and took the nearest staircase up.
The Thunder Mansion was a wooden building, though Cheng Xinzhan couldn’t identify the type of wood.
Copper decorations were everywhere, including on the stairs.
The wooden steps had beautiful rings of growth, and the edges were wrapped in purple copper, exuding an air of grandeur.
He reached the fourth floor, which was the territory of the Penglai Division.
Each office had a sign, and he quickly found the Ganlin Office.
He stood in front of the Ganlin Office, hoping to see someone.
Soon, a person came out and asked what he needed.
Cheng Xinzhan said he was looking for He Jiyuan, whose secular name was He Bingkun.
The person called into the office, "Jiyuan, someone’s here to see you!"
A deep voice responded from inside.
Soon, Cheng Xinzhan saw the tall figure.
"Xinzhan!"
He Bingkun, now more appropriately called He Jiyuan, saw Cheng Xinzhan and rushed forward, picking him up like a child.
"When did you get back?"
Cheng Xinzhan quickly tapped his shoulder.
This was the Nine Heavens Thunder Mansion! What kind of behavior was this?
Once put down, Cheng Xinzhan smiled and said, "Just got back. Came straight to find you."
He Jiyuan was clearly overjoyed.
He said to Cheng Xinzhan, "Wait here!"
With that, he quickly ran back into the office and spoke to someone.
Then he came back out and said, "Let’s go. I’ve taken leave. We’ve got a lot to catch up on. You have no idea how many rules I have to follow now!"
Cheng Xinzhan smiled.
He already knew and was about to follow those rules himself.
The two soon left the Thunder Mansion and headed to the beast stables.
He Jiyuan released his thunder sparrow, while Cheng Xinzhan picked up his little white dog.
"You picked up a dog during your travels?"
Cheng Xinzhan nodded with a smile.
"In the Thunder Mansion, we have duty days and rest days. On duty days, I’m in the mansion. On rest days, I’m at my residence. On the southeast side of Juji Mountain, there’s a place called Eighteen Slopes. That’s where we live. I’m at the easternmost Jiechen Pavilion on Half-Moon Slope. Next time you come looking for me, go there. But we’re not going there now. Let’s head to Azalea Valley and find Jihu!"
Cheng Xinzhan agreed.
He had the same thought.
Daoist Jihu had left the day after leading him into the mountains.
Now, they were meeting again after two years.
One rode a sparrow, the other a cloud, and they flew from Juji Mountain in Lotus Blessed Land straight to Azalea Valley.
It was early spring, not yet the season for azaleas.
The valley was mostly green, with no sign of the sea of azaleas that would bloom later.
They landed at the valley entrance and walked in.
As they entered, Cheng Xinzhan noticed that the valley wasn’t just filled with azaleas.
Along the path, there were also plum, apricot, and kapok trees, all blooming in the chilly spring breeze, competing in beauty.
Cheng Xinzhan had never been to Azalea Valley before, but He Jiyuan was clearly familiar with it, leading the way.
Cheng Xinzhan followed, admiring the scenery.
Xiaowan Mountain was crowded, Mingzhi Mountain had many bamboos, Shouyin Mountain was shrouded in clouds, Juji Mountain had many tall buildings, and Azalea Valley was filled with flowers and trees.
Walking along the path, surrounded by dense vegetation, he felt as if he had returned to the jungles of Miaojiang.
Compared to Juji Mountain, the little white dog clearly preferred Azalea Valley.
It seemed to feel at home, darting off the path into the bushes and then suddenly reappearing in front of Cheng Xinzhan.
As they walked, Cheng Xinzhan also noticed that there were more female cultivators here than in other places, even more than on Shouyin Mountain.
After a while, they came to a green field next to a small lake.
Around the lake were scattered a dozen or so courtyards.
He Jiyuan pointed to one of them and said, "That’s Jihu’s residence. Let’s go."
As they approached, Cheng Xinzhan fell in love with the small courtyard.
It was surrounded by a waist-high wooden fence, with a small wooden house inside.
The rest of the land was filled with a variety of flowers and plants.
Even in early spring, the garden was a riot of colors, with branches and fragrances spilling over the fence.
The fragrance seemed to attract many birds, and the garden was filled with their songs.
Cultivating in such a place must be incredibly pleasant.
Cheng Xinzhan decided he would ask Daoist Jihu for some flower seeds later.
"Jihu!"
He Jiyuan shouted.
Cheng Xinzhan chuckled.
Before establishing his residence, He Jiyuan had called him "Xuhuai," but now he naturally called him "Jihu."
"I’m home!"
A gentle voice came from the courtyard.
Cheng Xinzhan waited outside with a smile.
"Creak—"
A man pushed open the gate, carrying the scent of flowers.
He wore a Daoist robe with rolled-up sleeves and held a small hoe, as if he had been tending to the flowers.
Behind him, the garden was a tapestry of blooms.
Truly:
A gentleman as flawless as jade, unparalleled in the world.
He Jiyuan stood like a door god in front of the gate.
Before the man could greet them, he stepped aside to reveal Cheng Xinzhan and said, "Jihu, look who’s here."
Cheng Xinzhan’s smile was like a spring breeze, directed at the man who smelled of flowers.
He clasped his hands and bowed, "Brother Dao, long time no see."
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