Calamity Messenger-Chapter 70 - 57: Heaven Assigns Great Responsibilities to This Person
"Tired?" Qian Gongyu brought some snacks and warm tea, pulling ’Jiang Shi’ to sit on the grass nearby: "Take a break."
"Practice?"
"No practice, no practice!" Qian Gongyu quickly shook her head: "I’m not as energetic as you, I’m exhausted from fighting demons today!"
"Anything up?"
"Can’t I look for you for no reason?"
"I’m going to continue training."
"Wait!" Qian Gongyu quickly pulled her back, taking out a hairband from her arms: "I saw you always use a grass rope to tie your hair, so I wanted...to give you a hairband. My mother gave it to me when I was little, do you think it looks nice?"
"Average."
"Usually at this moment, even out of courtesy, you’d say it looks nice." Qian Gongyu was somewhat speechless: "I have no doubt you’ll offend a lot of people in the future."
"Thank you."
"I’m not complimenting you!" Qian Gongyu sighed helplessly and walked behind ’Jiang Shi’, "Let me tie your hair."
The sun sets in the west, the forest land turns dark, the girl ties the hair of another girl who is sweaty from exercise. The camp began lighting fire pits, the kitchen emitted various aromas, some sang loudly, others drank and danced.
"It seems they’re having the bonfire banquet tonight because they can leave tomorrow." Qian Gongyu said: "But I think they’re just looking for a reason to party. I always thought they would act extraordinarily given their noble backgrounds, but now I realize they’re not even worse than you, not even better than me, just a bunch of wastrels living off their lineage...many even switch careers just by secret arts, never having practiced any skills, can you believe it?"
"Since I was little, my father strictly trained me, washing my face with cold water and walking the Plum Blossom Stance at dawn, later started practicing finger techniques, my fingers’ skin broke and healed, healed and broke again...I actually like swordsmanship more, it’s graceful and elegant, finger techniques look like a shrew fighting, not only do they look bad, but they’re fierce. But father said the family heirloom was only the Silk Hand, I could only learn finger techniques to adapt to this weapon."
Not receiving a response, Qian Gongyu didn’t mind, she was accustomed to the other being a silent listener: "When I finally switched to being a Martial Arts Messenger at fifteen, father was really happy, solemnly giving me the Silk Hand and a hundred Spiritual Jades, yet still admonishing me not to be arrogant, not to misuse the heirloom, nor to oppress good people, Qian Family is a prestigious family, can’t have any wastrels...he has been most concerned about Qian Family, running around outside all year for family contribution points, when mother died he couldn’t come back, when I was sick he wasn’t home, meeting only concerned about my progress or discussing the family..."
"I was probably really annoyed with him at that time, but he suddenly died, and I became the Patriarch of Qian Family."
"Many came proposing marriage, people inside and outside the clan advised me to marry while Qian Family is still around, otherwise when the five-year mourning period is over, if I can’t earn enough family contribution points, the Court will delist Qian Family. Marrying early, the family points of Qian would be my best dowry, I could use it to gain support from my husband’s family...Luo Weijin was one of the suitors then, he carried himself with airs coming to our house, I naturally didn’t show him a good face, so it resulted in a grudge."
"I actually don’t want to stick to the Qian family name, too tired, pointless. I always think if a noble son proposes marriage I’d marry, I want to live a noble girl’s life in Jiangnan City, not practicing finger techniques and footwork every day...but the noble families apparently look down on small families like mine, so I continued as the Patriarch of Qian Family until now."
"It’s not that nobody wants me! Last year a second son from a grass-colored prestigious family came proposing. His family is currently in favor with the Court, qualified to live in Jiangnan City as a ’small noble’. I knew it was the best chance for me to climb up, even Uncle Lin urged me to consider, and I was very tempted because he was the type I liked."
"But I still want to continue the Qian family name."
Qian Gongyu has already tied her hair, placing both hands on ’Jiang Shi’s shoulders.
"Maybe someday I’ll regret, but not now, not here." Qian Gongyu looked at ’Jiang Shi’s profile with her head tilted: "Do you know why I’m telling you this much?"
"Why?"
"Because Lu Wangji, the rude uncle from noon just talked to me. He said if I can persuade you to join the Court, the Court would elevate my family to fourth-grade grass color, maintaining the grade for fifty years; he also promised, I could serve the Court with you, the Court is willing to spend resources to train us; he added that even if I don’t agree, I could move to Jiangnan City, the Court is willing to gift me a residence." Qian Gongyu sighed: "Bringing you onboard three days ago, was likely the highest return investment I made in my life."
"Did you agree?"
"That’s why I’m telling you so much first." Qian Gongyu wrapped ’Jiang Shi’s neck, laughing: "Jiang Shi, I rejected so many benefits for you! Rejected a step up to fourth-grade noble family, rejected Court training, rejected a mansion in Jiangnan City, Jiang Shi, do you think you should repay me?"
"Actually you should have agreed, I don’t mind serving the Court."
Even ’Ye Si’ could be a big soldier for Qi Kingdom, ’Jiang Shi’ could naturally be a vanguard for Liang Kingdom, as long as benefits are sufficient, Yan Qing wouldn’t mind working for anyone.
"Really?" Qian Gongyu was very surprised: "What if someone from the Court offends you?"
"Kill them."
"...Please, don’t join the Court."
"Okay."
Qian Gongyu sat beside ’Jiang Shi’, with hands holding her chin, gazing up at the moon in the sky.
"But Lu Wangji doesn’t seem like a good guy, and the Quan Family and Chen Family might not let go easily, what if they target you?"
"Kill them."
"Can’t you give a second option..." Qian Gongyu sighed, she tilted her head watching the girl beside her, asking: "After Mansu Forest Land ends, where do you plan to go?"
"Accept tributes from Jie Family or Shang Family, and visit various Secret Realms."
Qian Gongyu nodded, "That’s quite good."
After a brief silence, just as Yan Qing was about to send her away and continue his training, Qian Gongyu said, "Liang Kingdom is vast. Without a carriage, your journey will be quite tiring."
"The Business Community Family should be sending one for me."
"But having a private carriage is more comfortable; you can decorate it however you like, just like your own home." Qian Gongyu tried her best to sell the idea, "Besides, since you’re quite pretty and not very good at talking, it would really help to have someone with high emotional intelligence around to avoid lots of trouble."
"I’m used to being alone; I don’t want you to come along."
Qian Gongyu immediately held onto ’Jiang Shi’ like a little raccoon, looking pitiful and said, "Please let me follow you, I’m willing to do anything you ask!"
"What about your Qian Family?"
"The family bonus I’ve earned over the years is nothing compared to tagging along with you in Mansu Forest Land; sticking close to you is the only shortcut to strengthening the Qian Family!" Qian Gongyu buried her face in his chest, burrowing incessantly: "Let me follow you, I’ll be obedient and listen to whatever you say..." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
"You’re saying you’re willing to do anything I ask?"
Qian Gongyu blinked, her cheeks flushed, whether from the red glow of sunset or embarrassment, "Mm-hmm!"
"Then let’s spar, using tokens."
"I don’t want to spar..."
...
...
Outside the camp.
Lu Wangji handed a letter to the fast rider, watching as the rider raised a torch and sped through the forest like a fireball.
"Lu Xiaoqi, can’t we discuss these matters inside?" Qunyu Book approached, surveying the area: "With the quiet night and secluded location, it almost seems like we’re plotting some conspiracy."
"Or maybe it’s good news you’re boasting about?" Chen Linchuan remarked, "I hear you’ve privately contacted Miss Qian from the Qian Family and the Court has taken Jiang Shi under its wing?"
"She refused," Lu Wangji replied, "She said she can’t make decisions for Jiang Shi."
"The Court is really recruiting Jiang Shi?" Qunyu Book asked curiously, "I thought you’d be cautious about the Power of Calamity."
"There is caution, but His Majesty’s vision is vast enough to accommodate even a small figure like Jiang Shi. Furthermore, Jiang Shi merely holds potential, not yet at the legendary ’Calamity arises, world collapses’ level." Lu Wangji displayed pride on his face, "Throughout history, many people possessed the Power of Calamity, yet those who truly incited calamity are one in a hundred."
"What’s more, Liang Kingdom needs calamity." He said, "The unification of the world requires calamity."
Chen Linchuan narrowed his eyes slightly, a smile faintly playing on his lips, "That’s a double-edged sword."
"Divine Zhou Shengxuan, who didn’t rely on the devastating power of calamity to unify the Central Plains? If one seeks to achieve further than Zhou Xuan’s feats, figures like Jiang Shi are indispensable." Lu Wangji lamented, "For hundreds of years, chaos reigns, heroes emerge, with numerous transformations, but who has truly unified the world? Heroes become skeletons in a grave overnight and it’s another hundred years of suffering for the people."
Qunyu Book crossed his arms, fingers gently tapping his arm—a gesture of contemplation: "Does the Court plan to focus on cultivating Jiang Shi? Are you seeking approval from our families?"
"No."
Lu Wangji slowly shook his head, looking at the two of them, and said seriously, "To contribute is better than to correct mistakes. Adding flowers to a brocade is less than offering coal during snow."
"The threat of calamity is undeniable. To control Jiang Shi, her arrogance must be dismantled, cultivating her emotions, so she becomes a messenger for Liang Kingdom, an enemy’s calamity."
"Just like training a dog," Chen Linchuan laughed.
"Just like training a dog," Lu Wangji nodded.
"But you won’t be the owner, will you?" Qunyu Book said, "The Jie Family and the Business Family have already built a good relationship with her; even we have to line up. How do you think you have the chance to offer coal in winter?"
"I’m not here to offer coal," Lu Wangji replied, "My task is to plunge her into freezing winds and burning waters."
Qunyu Book and Chen Linchuan were slightly taken aback, then quickly understood Lu Wangji’s meaning.
"Aren’t you afraid she’ll oppose the Court?"
"By that time, I’ll naturally be pushed out as the scapegoat. The Court belongs to you, as long as you maintain good relations with her, how can there be opposition?"
"And why tell us?"
"If you don’t compete against the Jie Family and Business Family, the result will be Jiang Shi accepting their olive branch. But if you cooperate with me, you’ll have at least three years to reconcile with her, with the Court even aiding in ’punishing’ you to provide a chance to fight alongside her." Lu Wangji said, "I’m just offering a suggestion; it’s fine if you don’t agree. After all, whether Jiang Shi belongs to the Jie Family and Business Family or the Quan Family and Chen Family, it’s all the same for the Court."
With that, he paid no heed to Qunyu Book and Chen Linchuan’s reactions, turning back to the camp, reciting as he walked:
"Therefore, Heaven is about to confer a great duty to this person, it must first frustrate their spirit, exhaust their muscles, starve their body, distress their being, and confuse their actions, so as to stir their heart and strengthen their will..."
