Chapter Ninety-Eight: Bestowing a Treasure

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"Well struck!"

Patron Huangfu wore a beaming smile. Had any outsider seen him, they would never have guessed that the one he spoke of was his own daughter—this old fox, he had an endearingly mischievous air about him, like a child at heart.

Chen Jianjian held a very favorable impression of Patron Huangfu. Even upon discovering that the man was an old fox spirit, he found nothing objectionable about it, and their interactions remained as natural as ever.

In this world, human hearts are more treacherous than ghosts, and evildoers are as numerous as hemp fibers. Compared to them, demons and spirits are far less dangerous and far less harmful. What is called "human" and what is called "demon" is by no means the sole standard for distinguishing good from evil. Having already established bonds with Yingning and Xiaoyi, Chen Jianjian found it all the more natural and peaceful to accept the father and daughter of the Huangfu family for who they were.

Patron Huangfu stroked his beard and suddenly said, "Liuxian, it's just that my daughter is a mischievous one. Now that you've struck her today, I fear she will refuse to accept it and her rebellious heart will grow even stronger. Is there a way to resolve this?"

He had intended to directly reveal that his daughter would harbor thoughts of revenge, but on second thought, if he exposed that, he could no longer conceal the true origins of himself and his daughter. Should Chen Jianjian learn the truth, even as open-minded as he was, he would likely be frightened into taking his leave on the spot. After all, the secular mindset was deeply ingrained—humans are humans, demons are demons, with a clear line drawn between them. Even reading every word of the sages' writings would be in vain, unable to bridge that chasm.

Chen Jianjian said, "It's no matter. At first, Miss Huangfu will certainly resist, but as long as I handle things properly, I am confident I can be a good tutor."

Since he had accepted the task and taken up the post, he would not disappoint the trust placed in him—this had always been one of Chen Jianjian's guiding principles in life.

Patron Huangfu rose, bowed deeply, and said, "If Liuxian can properly educate my daughter, this old man will repay you even if I must shatter my bones and grind my body to dust." Tears actually welled up in his eyes, showing how important his daughter was in his heart.

Humans have feelings—how could demons and spirits not?

Chen Jianjian hurriedly returned the bow and said, "Patron, you are too kind. This is merely my duty."

Patron Huangfu suddenly said, "Liuxian, wait a moment. I have a gift for you, as a small token of my esteem." With that, he turned and went into the inner chamber. Before long, he emerged, holding a book box in his hands.

This book box was about two feet long and a foot or so wide. The main body was made of some unknown wood, a uniform tender red with a soft luster. Seen from a distance, it gave one a very pleasing impression. Drawing closer, a faint, elusive fragrance drifted into one's nose; upon smelling it, one's spirit was instantly invigorated, feeling wonderfully refreshed.

This is...

Chen Jianjian wasn't quite sure what to make of it.

Patron Huangfu placed the book box on the table and said, "This object is crafted from blood rosewood harvested from overseas. No insect can bore into it, water and fire cannot harm it, swords and blades cannot scratch it, and it naturally emits a subtle fragrance of blood rosewood that refreshes the mind and spirits. It may well be considered a treasure. However, this old man has no use for it, so it is fitting that I give it to you, Liuxian. As the saying goes, 'A fine sword for a hero, fine jade for a beauty'—this book box is most suited to a man of learning like Liuxian, who has courage, responsibility, and a sense of righteousness."

No insect can bore into it, water and fire cannot harm it, swords and blades cannot scratch it...

Hearing this, Chen Jianjian knew it was something of great origin, incredibly formidable. He did not believe Patron Huangfu would lie—after all, the man was a fox spirit who had cultivated for several hundred years, with profound cultivation and vast holdings. How could anything he gifted be junk? Though Chen Jianjian didn't know what kind of wood blood rosewood was, just looking at the book box was enough to understand that its value far exceeded gold.

Wood more precious than gold.

"Patron, this gift is too precious. I dare not accept it!"

Patron Huangfu chuckled and said, "As the saying goes, 'No reward without merit.' But Liuxian, you are an exception. Your willingness to serve as my daughter's tutor is a tremendous merit in this old man's eyes. Hence, 'What an elder gives, one must not refuse.' Liuxian, say no more—accept it."

Chen Jianjian smiled wryly and said, "To be honest, I took a liking to this object the moment I saw it. But I am but an ordinary scholar. If I carried such a rare treasure about in public, I fear that misfortune and calamity, though without doors, are nonetheless invited by men themselves. It would only invite disaster and death upon me."

As the saying goes, "Never show your wealth." If Chen Jianjian were to carry this blood rosewood book box wherever he went, he would truly be tired of living, easily inciting wicked thoughts in others and prompting murderous, thieving intentions.

In the past, Wang Fu had given Chen Jianjian a valuable purple sandalwood book box. That box was finely crafted and worth a considerable amount of silver, but compared to the blood rosewood book box before him, it was as pebbles compared to pearls and jade. The purple sandalwood box might make people envious and covetous, but the blood rosewood box would make them act outright.

So Chen Jianjian dared to carry the purple sandalwood box in public, but he did not dare carry the blood rosewood one. Unfortunately, the day he killed the Black-Robed Guards, the purple sandalwood box had been smashed. Though it had been repaired afterward, it still bore cracks and flaws—that box had since been retrieved by the Huangfu family's servants from the inn in Suzhou city and placed in the eastern wing.

Hearing this, Patron Huangfu was taken aback, and he looked at Chen Jianjian with even greater appreciation: to face a treasure without being moved by it, and instead to calmly consider all eventualities—this was not something an ordinary man could do. In truth, the various properties he had described were merely a fraction of the blood rosewood box's capabilities.

Blood rosewood grows on overseas islands. The tree requires a thousand years to reach maturity, and during that millennium, it endures nine tribulations of thunder, struck nine times by lightning bolts without dying, only then being considered truly finished wood. Due to its extraordinary nature, blood rosewood is an important material that cultivators gather for crafting magical instruments and treasures. Its value is not merely greater than gold—it is virtually priceless.

In fact, this blood rosewood book box had already been refined by Patron Huangfu into a magical artifact, though it was a "chicken rib" type of auxiliary artifact, possessing three functions: windproofing, dustproofing, and waterproofing. However, these three protections were utterly unnecessary for Patron Huangfu. Giving it to Chen Jianjian was most fitting—making the best use of the item.

—He had refined this piece of blood rosewood into the form of a book box precisely because he had intended it as a gift for a man of learning.

Now, it seemed Chen Jianjian was that man of learning!

Blood rosewood was certainly inestimably precious, but no matter how precious, it was not as precious as his daughter.

Beyond the surface reasons for earnestly inviting Chen Jianjian to be his daughter's tutor, Patron Huangfu actually had another consideration. He was originally a fire fox who had cultivated for five hundred years. Through a stroke of fortune, he had received a profound inheritance of Daoist arts, and his cultivation had reached the Nascent Soul stage. His daughter Jiaona had only recently broken through to the Golden Core stage and had just managed to manifest a human form.

When demons and spirits take human form, they must undergo a heavenly tribulation.

The heavenly tribulation was something that made every Daoist practitioner pale at the very mention. For this tribulation was not easily passed—with the slightest misstep, one would be utterly destroyed, body and spirit annihilated, reduced to ashes.

To help his daughter pass the heavenly tribulation safely, Patron Huangfu had racked his brains and exhausted every thought. He understood that the heavenly tribulation was a law of heaven and earth. To endure it, one needed not only powerful magical support but also familiarity with the principles of the laws themselves.

The principles of the laws were obtained through reading and learning.

This was called "enlightenment."

"Without reading, one cannot understand reason." This was the very principle.

However, Jiaona was naturally mischievous and restless, with no heart for study whatsoever. This became the greatest obstacle, and also the reason Patron Huangfu kept hiring tutors for her. Among the previous eight tutors, there had been learned scholars with vast knowledge, erudite pedants who had read everything under the sun, and even jinshi and juren who had passed the imperial examinations. But in front of Jiaona, they had all been pranked into disarray, humiliated into fury, and fled within two or three days.

It wasn't that they were all scared off—more often, they felt their dignity wounded and their scholarly honor sullied, and so they swept away their sleeves in indignation.

Now, it was Chen Jianjian's turn.

Patron Huangfu was extremely satisfied with Chen Jianjian's performance on the first day, which was why he had said "well struck." The way of a teacher requires a balance of tension and relaxation, strictness and kindness in equal measure. Only by mastering that balance could one continue.

Therefore, Patron Huangfu brought out the blood rosewood book box as a gift to Chen Jianjian—a generous reward. But hearing Chen Jianjian's words, he realized he had been somewhat hasty. He pondered for a moment and suddenly said, "If Liuxian feels this book box is too conspicuous, fear not—this old man has his ways to change its appearance. Wait a moment."

He took the book box back into the inner chamber, presumably to use some sorcery.

Chen Jianjian understood perfectly well, but revealed nothing.

Sure enough, a moment later Patron Huangfu emerged with the book box. The red glow on the surface of the box had dimmed, turning gray and dusty. It looked just like an old, worn book box one might buy on the street for a few dozen coppers—even the naturally emanating fragrance had disappeared. Had one not known better, one would have thought he had brought out a different box entirely.

"Liuxian, what do you think now?"

Chen Jianjian did not stand on ceremony. He rose, gave a bow, and said, "Thank you, Patron, for the gift." He did not ask many questions—some things were better left unasked, and asking also represented a kind of trust.

Patron Huangfu chuckled. "You're too polite, Liuxian. In the days to come, I hope you will give my daughter your full attention."

"That is my wish as well."

Chen Jianjian took the book box and found it extremely light—half a jin at most. Worn on his back, it felt as if it weighed nothing, far better than the bulky purple sandalwood box. The natural fragrance of the wood could no longer be smelled, but it was still being emitted, and with each breath he felt quite comfortable.

He examined it more closely, reached out, and pulled up the four round support poles, raising the white sun-shading cloth above. The cloth felt smooth and silky to the touch—neither cotton, nor brocade, nor silk—quite extraordinary indeed. No wonder it was impervious to water and fire. With this cloth canopy extended, it could completely block the sky overhead, and even heavy rain would pose no threat.

Meanwhile, in the compartments inside the box, a full set of fine stationery had already been placed—these were extra additions, gifts on top. Patron Huangfu had thought of everything.

After the meal, they chatted over tea for a while, and then Chen Jianjian took his leave and returned to the eastern wing. The Huangfu household servants had already prepared a large wooden bathing tub and hot water for him. After washing, the servants carried the furnishings back out.

Having bathed in hot water and dressed in dry, clean clothes, Chen Jianjian felt refreshed and at ease. He then sat at his desk, practiced calligraphy for a while, and picked up a book to continue reading. He had no desire to go to bed too early, for his intuition told him that something was certain to happen tonight.