Chapter Fifteen: Reform and Opening Up

Reform and opening up? Self-reliance? Bankruptcy liquidation? Starting anew?

Look at these words—how fearsome and ominous they sound! Why do they come off so bureaucratic? This fifth plenary session of the One Valley Assembly has begun with a couple of official-sounding opening lines, and it seems like they’re getting addicted to these formalities.

Chu Linfeng glanced at the bewildered and dazed expressions around him, frustrated that they couldn’t grasp the concept of reform. Didn’t they understand? The Hundred Flowers Valley was already riddled with wounds and on the brink of collapse. Without reform, it was doomed! He needed to brainwash these people—forcefully!

“Let me explain carefully,” Chu Linfeng began. “I had the privilege of studying for a month at the Imperial Kunlun Academy in the capital.”

The moment he mentioned the Imperial Kunlun Academy, the crowd burst out in awe, “Wow!” Encouraged by their reaction, Chu Linfeng continued to spin his tale:

“There is a great master there named Zhang Zhengdao, whose cultivation is unfathomable. Even the academy’s dean, Wu Zisheng, must show him respect.” As he mentioned Zhang Zhengdao, the crowd’s expressions remained blank, but when the dean’s name came up, Li Gan suddenly shouted, “Wu Zisheng! The Kunlun God ranked second on the Immortal True Martial List!”

“Cough, cough,” Chu Linfeng feigned a cough, signaling Li Gan to calm down. Then he explained, “So, you can imagine how extraordinary Zhang Zhengdao is. He once said that the universe—heaven, earth, and humanity—all rely on the concept of ‘Qi Yun’ (fortune or destiny), which is nothing but the principle of the five elements generating and overcoming each other. When aligned, fortune thrives; when opposed, Qi perishes!”

The crowd nodded repeatedly, not fully understanding but convinced that such a master’s words must carry truth.

“Our Hundred Flowers Valley has been declining, and since my first day here, I have deduced the root cause through Zhang Zhengdao’s principles!”

“Ah? Master of the valley, wasn’t it because Master Tang passed away that the Hundred Flowers Valley fell into decline? Could there be deeper reasons or a hidden earth-shattering secret?” Manager Mo, though without cultivation, was intrigued by this celestial perspective. The others listened intently, eyes wide like copper bells and ears perked like antennae.

Seeing that they had taken the bait, Chu Linfeng knew it was time to deliver the heavy blow.

“The Hundred Flowers Valley, named after a hundred flowers, corresponds to the Wood element in the five elements. Flowers are Yin and gentle, thus belonging to Yi Wood. The ‘Drop of Heaven’s Marrow’ says: ‘Though Yi Wood is soft, it can carve sheep and butcher oxen. Embracing Ding and carrying Bing, it rides the phoenix and mounts the monkey. In damp, wet places, even a horse worries. Vines bind Jia, suitable for spring and autumn.’”

Chu Linfeng’s elaborate discourse, full of citations and references, only deepened the crowd’s confusion.

“Chu Linfeng, can you speak plainly?” Tang Xie, who also didn’t understand, couldn’t bear it any longer and bluntly confronted her superior, “Many in the valley have never read books. Can they understand this?”

Embarrassed by his own exaggeration, Chu Linfeng hastily clarified, “Simply put, although the flower is fragile, it can take root in the earth. But if the dampness and cold are excessive, even the midday sun cannot warm it, and the flower will surely freeze to death. Conversely, if the climate is appropriate, with sunlight for photosynthesis and water for nourishment, the flower will thrive. If it also has a large tree full of vitality to lean on, it can bloom throughout all seasons!”

“That’s right, Master of the Valley! I usually take care of the flowers here. Where there’s light, water, and trellises, the flowers grow tall and healthy. In dark, damp places without sunlight, flowers struggle to survive,” the one-eyed Tang Ying was the first to understand and applauded enthusiastically.

“Our Hundred Flowers Valley lies at the foot of the mysterious Black Tortoise Peak in northern China, a cold climate with sparse rainfall. It faces the peak, resulting in perennial insufficient sunlight. Additionally, the area is sparsely populated and lacks vitality and support. Left this way, the valley is bound to wither and struggle to survive! In summary, our site selection is flawed—the feng shui is seriously off!”

“What? The feng shui is wrong?” The crowd gasped in horror as if speaking of a tiger.

“Chu Linfeng! Shut up! Don’t spread heresy to confuse and scare us!” Tang Xie, still an innocent eighteen-year-old girl, outwardly lively but inwardly timid compared to her sister Tang Cai, shuddered at the mention of metaphysics and hurriedly interrupted Chu Linfeng.

“Tang Xie, your husband is now the head of the valley. You must show respect and not call him by name repeatedly in front of everyone,” Tang Cai quickly admonished her sister.

“Sis! But Chu…” Tang Xie pouted, about to protest, when Manager Mo finally spoke up:

“Miss Eldest, Miss Second, this humble servant should not gossip. Since Master Chu is speaking openly today, I cannot keep silent. Since the passing of Master Yang, I have been pondering deeply. Both Master Tang and Master Yang were cultivators. Regardless of their cultivation level, cultivators usually have stronger bodies than us commoners and should live longer. So why did both pass away in their prime, not even reaching fifty?”

Having an elder in the house brought much metaphysical insight. Manager Mo’s words struck with authority, far more practical than Chu Linfeng’s lofty rhetoric. Having served the valley for thirty years, he was highly respected. The crowd murmured and whispered excitedly, the hall suddenly alive with chatter.

“Quiet down, everyone. Let’s continue listening to Master Chu,” Tang Cai hushed the commotion and nodded at Chu Linfeng to proceed.

Having delivered his heavy medicine and seeing the crowd’s growing interest, Chu Linfeng decided it was time to get to the point.

“The site choice for Hundred Flowers Valley was a grave mistake! It should not have been located in a frigid, scarcely inhabited northern land. We must choose a place with warm sunshine, abundant water, and a bustling population to rebuild!”

“Chu Linfeng! What do you mean? You want to relocate the sect!” Tang Xie was shocked, drawing her treasured sword and pointing it at Chu Linfeng. “You traitorous scoundrel! My mother trusted you so much, and yet you want to destroy our sect!”

A cold glint flashed from her blade, chilling the entire hall.

Chu Linfeng, seeing that Tang Xie had seen through his secret plan to sell off assets and clear debts, and now faced death, adrenaline surged, and he instantly slipped into an acting mode.

“Go ahead and kill me!”

As the sword tip pressed against his throat, so close that swallowing would cut his skin, Tang Xie was startled by his fierce shout and hesitated.

“Haha! Heaven is truly blind! I, Chu Linfeng, a prodigious talent, was wronged and nearly died countless times. Fortunately, the valley matron took pity and entrusted me with this responsibility in desperate times. I do not seek fame among immortals, only to repay kindness with my life, to save this collapsing mansion, to rescue Hundred Flowers from its precarious fate!”

At this point, Chu Linfeng painfully pinched his thigh, tears streaming down, locking eyes with Tang Xie, desperate for her to witness his heartfelt confession.

“In this critical hour, I dare not forget my worries. I wish to take your hand and face life and death together. My heart delights in you, but you do not know. My sword points to my beloved, refusing to grow old apart. Having seen the vast ocean, no other waters will do. A heart once devoted, now flows eastward in vain!”

Not only did eighteen-year-old, love-unaware Tang Xie feel her heart stirred, but even sixty-eight-year-old Manager Mo, who had seen countless blossoms, was moved to tears by this earnest declaration. Such purity of heart! Such fiery resolve!

Chu Linfeng closed his eyes slightly, squeezing out his last tears, thinking it was time to bring the fire to a close.

“Go ahead, strike me. Better to die by your hand than by debt collectors. To perish under the sword of one you love—so the next life will not forget this passion!”

Tang Xie’s chest felt as if struck by lightning. Tears flashed in her eyes, her limbs went limp, and the sword slipped from her grasp as she fainted backwards.

Chu Linfeng reacted swiftly, catching her waist with one hand and supporting her head with the other. Losing his balance, he too fell backward. Unable to steady himself, he landed directly atop Tang Xie, their noses touching, lips barely apart…

Flowers bloom in myriad hues, innocence brings fragrance; like a startled rabbit freezing in place, surely encountering a lover.

Tang Xie, betrothed by her mother’s decree, had only harbored resentment toward the handsome young man before this passionate confession. She never imagined he loved her so deeply. Her heart was thrown into chaos.

At this moment, the lively and carefree girl had her first kiss stolen by Chu Linfeng. Yet, instead of anger, her wide eyes gently closed. This scene fed a hearty dose of romantic envy to Tang Cai and the others.

“Cough! Cough!” Tang Cai’s slightly jealous and raised voice interrupted them. The two released their embrace and helped each other up. As Tang Xie rose, she shyly and tenderly said, “It was my ignorance to misjudge you, husband. I hope I didn’t scare you. Don’t be sad, I will obey you fully.”

The crowd was stunned by Tang Xie’s sudden softness—was this still the fierce Hundred Flowers Valley heroine?

With that, the largest faction opposing reform within the valley was toppled.

“Ahem, since that’s settled, I shall continue explaining my reform ideas!” Chu Linfeng declared. Tang Xie was still starry-eyed admiring her destined husband, unaware of what he planned next—whether to relocate the sect or even the ancestral graves, she wouldn’t have minded.

“I, Chu Linfeng, firmly believe in one principle: people first! A sect’s survival depends not on crumbling walls and dilapidated roofs. The Hundred Flowers Valley’s reputation is not sustained by rented pavilions and towers. The colorful flowers in the valley are not mere potted plants. The living, breathing people here in this hall—each one of you—are the true Hundred Flowers of this valley!”

“The real flowers?” The crowd had never heard such a profound statement and were astonished, an inexplicable sense of belonging and recognition blossoming within them.

“Yes! You are the flowers. The valley exists because of you. If the people vanish, what use is a lifeless shell? As long as one person lives on, passing down the legacy through generations, wherever you go, that place is the Hundred Flowers Valley! The sect stands firm because of you, enduring through the ages!”

Chu Linfeng raised his right arm and shouted,

“Let each of us live on! Only by surviving does the sect have hope! Survive, and the sect will have a future! Understand? Applaud!”

“*Clap, clap, clap!*” The crowd was deeply moved by Chu Linfeng’s passionate speech, clapping enthusiastically.

“As the saying goes: ‘Trees die when moved; people thrive when moved.’ The Hundred Flowers Valley can no longer sustain itself here. Do you want to wait here for the valley to collapse and become relics of a lost sect, or will you strive to revive it and become the heroes of its renaissance?”

“Revive! Revive!” the hall echoed with roaring cheers.

Seeing that the brainwashing was nearly complete and the crowd energized, Chu Linfeng moved to interaction, pointing to Li Gan, “You, right there. You said earlier it’s inconvenient to work at the mountain’s base?”

Excited, Li Gan immediately cupped his fists, “Yes, Sect Master, it was me. Not just me; most of the senior and junior sisters in the valley feel the same!”

“I’m glad to hear that everyone desires self-reliance. The inconvenience of working stems from our remote location. Has anyone considered that if we were in the city, would these problems persist?” Chu Linfeng asked.

Their eyes lit up, and they began exchanging ideas enthusiastically. “Yes, in the city, my flower arranging skills would surely be in demand!” “Even if I just worked as a cleaner, that’s fine!” “Don’t mention cleaning—washing dishes in a restaurant would work too!”

“Quiet, everyone!” Chu Linfeng called for order. “So, my first reform step is to let go of old attachments and advance from the rural mountain to the city! The Dao is not in the mountains or temples—it’s in the mundane world, in the heart! I’m not asking everyone to abandon cultivation and return to the secular world. We will band together to survive the hardships. In the city, we establish a base. At first, it may be difficult; everyone works by day to earn a living and gathers by night to cultivate. When the time is right, we will raise the banner of the Hundred Flowers Valley, unite all stars, and establish companies together—that will be the true rebirth of the Hundred Flowers Valley!”

Urban cultivation? Cultivation sects have always been in the mountains, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. No one had tried city cultivation before! Not for lack of desire, but because most had to choose between longevity cultivation and family livelihood. Today, they finally realized they could have both!

The crowd, including Manager Mo, erupted in excitement. Most had low cultivation and weak attachment to cultivation, and Chu Linfeng’s words stirred their enthusiasm.

Seeing that the reform and self-reliance policy had won unanimous approval, Chu Linfeng immediately introduced the second topic: “Since no one objects, let’s discuss the details of bankruptcy liquidation and starting anew!”

“Manager Mo, have all valley assets been recorded, including antiques like vases, furnishings, even the flowers and trees planted here?” Chu Linfeng asked thoroughly.

Manager Mo carefully calculated all fixed assets in front of everyone, using depreciated second-hand prices, tallying three times. The total was only about eight million.

Chu Linfeng hesitated—if debts weren’t fully cleared before relocation, it would be fleeing, making them debt evaders. Just as he fretted, Tang Xie stepped forward, holding out a multicolored gem-studded diamond ring.

“Husband, this Hundred Flowers Ring is the valley treasure. Grandpa paid five million for it back then. Even if sold urgently now, it should be worth five million!”

Chu Linfeng’s heart surged with joy. He cupped Tang Xie’s forehead and kissed it, thinking, “Heaven truly does not forsake me!”

Flushing, Tang Xie said shyly, “Husband, don’t do that. This ring was promised by mother to me and sister to pay next year’s rent!”

Chu Linfeng’s gaze darkened. No wonder his mother-in-law didn’t take it; Tang Xie had already planned its use clearly.

With the debt issue settled, everyone gathered around the map to discuss city locations. Many suggested the capital—bustling and prosperous. Others mentioned Nanming, Donghai, and Tianfu, all major cities in China.

Chu Linfeng thought: “We can’t go to the capital. If an enemy shows up and causes trouble, it might implicate everyone. Donghai is my hometown, but that’s too obvious. I can’t have personal motives. Nanming and Tianfu are inland cities. I just boasted about needing sunshine and water; now I have to make it fit!”

“Here!” Chu Linfeng was ready to make the call. Seeing the master decide, everyone looked on.

“A hundred years ago, an old man drew a circle by the southern sea of China…”

[To be continued.]