The Eight Directions City.
A city designed with four main roads leading out in each cardinal direction, connecting it to the wider world.
“It’s said that the distance from here to the Imperial City of Chang’an in the north, the coastal city of Luori in the east, Luoxia Fort in the south, and the Holy Buddha City in the west is exactly the same.” Feng Zuojun drove the carriage into the city. “That’s why it’s said that this place can lead to all directions, a central stop for travelers from all over the world.”
“Are we going to take a detour from here to Yunmeng Prefecture?” Su Baiyi asked.
“No, I guess my senior sister came here to look for someone.” Feng Zuojun looked back and asked, “Senior sister, where are we going next?”
“Butterfly?” Su Baiyi suddenly exclaimed in surprise, then stretched out a finger and saw a pure white butterfly landing on his finger. “The butterflies in this Eight Directions City are really bold. Aren’t they afraid of people?”
Feng Zuojun glanced at it and muttered, “I see.”
“What do you mean?” Su Baiyi was puzzled.
“It’s Butterfly Wind.” Feng Zuojun smiled. “Gently lift your hand and let the butterfly go.”
Su Baiyi followed Feng Zuojun’s words and flicked his finger lightly. The white butterfly fluttered its wings a few times and flew up, stopping not far in front of their carriage. Feng Zuojun lightly whipped the reins, and the butterfly slowly flew forward. Feng Zuojun then drove the carriage to follow the butterfly.
Su Baiyi was dumbfounded. “This butterfly is actually leading the way?”
“Yes, this is a butterfly made by the Butterfly Wind people. I don’t know what kind of wonderful method they used. It’s amazing, just like a demon technique.” Feng Zuojun replied.
“Butterfly Wind?” Su Baiyi frowned.
“Confucian Sage said that butterflies seem insignificant, but a single flap of their wings can inadvertently cause many things to happen. The same is true for the affairs of the Jianghu. Some seemingly insignificant news may lead to a bloody disaster. So the intelligence department of Academy is called Butterfly Wind. It seems that there is a branch of Butterfly Wind in Eight Directions City. My senior sister came here to find them.” Feng Zuojun said.
“I need the latest news about Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm.” Nangong Xi’er said.
The butterfly finally led them to a bustling street nearby. The carriage was inconvenient to drive, so the four people got off the carriage and followed the butterfly through the streets and alleys. The Eight Directions City lived up to its reputation of “a central stop for travelers from all over the world”. There were indeed many travelers from all directions here, even some exotic people with blue eyes. Su Baiyi had lived in the village since he was a child and found it very novel. He stared at the exotic people’s eyes and exclaimed, “This person’s eyes are like sapphires.”
The exotic person had skin that was surprisingly white. He wore a gray-white robe and stood in the sun. Su Baiyi could almost see the blood vessels under his skin. The exotic person seemed to notice Su Baiyi’s gaze and turned his head slightly to look at them.
“What’s there to be curious about? Your eyes can change too.” Feng Zuojun turned Su Baiyi’s head around and hurried to catch up with the butterfly that was flying faster and faster.
“Don’t look around too much. There are many secret agents from major gangs in Eight Directions City.” Nangong Xier warned.
Su Baiyi was pulled by Feng Zuojun to walk forward, but he couldn’t help but look back again, but the exotic person was no longer there.
The butterfly led the four people through seven or eight alleys and finally stopped at the entrance of a quiet courtyard. It also fell to the ground like it had exhausted its strength. Su Baiyi bent down to pick it up, but the butterfly suddenly burst into flames. In a short while, it turned into a pile of ashes.
“What a clever thing.” Su Baiyi sighed.
“Big senior brother has always been good at tinkering with these things. This guiding butterfly is only the most ordinary among his many ingenious devices.” Nangong Xi’er said indifferently, then walked to the gate of the courtyard. She knocked three times lightly and heavily, then lightly twice, and then heavily once. The door opened by itself.
“What would happen if you knocked wrong?” Su Baiyi asked.
“Your hand would break.” Feng Zuojun raised his eyebrows.
“What if you just forgot?” Su Baiyi was surprised. “That’s too cruel.”
“Your hand won’t break, but the scenery behind the door will be different.” A slender young man with long flowing hair stood there, his hands tied behind his back, polite and courteous. “Luo Qin has been waiting here for you all for a long time. Eight Directions City is quite far from Qiantang City, so it’s rare to see fellow students from the Academy. Greetings, junior brothers and sisters.”
“Greetings, Luo senior brother.” Nangong Xi’er bowed her fist. “Junior sister Nangong Xi’er.”
“Greetings, Luo senior brother.” The other three also greeted him immediately.
“Sister Nangong, we have got the information you wanted. Please come in.” Luo Qin turned around and led the group forward.
“Is this Luo Qín also the Academy disciple?” Su Baiyi asked in a low voice.
“I’ll give you a new name later, called Su Wenwen (Ask-Ask Su). Why do you have so many questions?” Feng Zuojun said impatiently.
“There is no shame in asking.” Su Baiyi said confidently.
“Fine, I’ll tell you.” Feng Zuojun sighed. “What would you do without me, brother?”
Xie Yuling shook his head behind him and whispered, “People say ‘there’s no shame in asking questions,’ yet he’s so happy about it. He really never realizes when he’s being insulted.”
Su Baiyi seemed to hear Xie Yuling’s words, turned his head and raised his eyebrows at Xie Yuling proudly. Feng Zuojun didn’t hear it and continued to explain enthusiastically to Su Baiyi. “TWithin the Academy, every ten years is considered a generation, but all disciples, except for the Confucian Sage himself, are considered equal, regardless of whether they are master or apprentice. So even though each generation has its own senior and junior brothers, between generations, they still address each other as fellow disciples. After completing their studies, the disciples have three choices. The first is to go down the mountain and return to their sects, and have no actual contact with the Academy, but still call themselves disciples of the Academy. The second is to stay in the Academy for life, dedicate their lives to the Academy. Some go to the Willow Shade Pavilion to take on the responsibility of teaching new disciples, some go to Butterfly Wind and become members of the intelligence department, scattered all over the world to collect information for the Academy, like this Brother Luo Qin, and some go to Countryside Workshop, you saw the large vegetable fields before entering the Academy, right? They grow vegetables there. And some go to Five-Spice Courtyard, mainly raising chickens and feeding pigs. In short, there are many places to go.”
“What about the third choice?” Su Baiyi asked curiously.
“The third choice is to become a gentleman!” Feng Zuojun said proudly.
“What do you need to do to become a gentleman?” Su Baiyi was puzzled.
“You’re wrong.” Feng Zuojun extended a finger, his expression one of exasperation. “The most important thing about being a gentleman is not being forced to do anything. Following your heart’s desire, being free and unrestrained, only needing to do one thing in your entire life.”
“What is it?”
“We call this thing ‘A gentleman says’.” Feng Zuojun smirked.
Thanks for the translation. Really appreciate the effort.