Changli

People who visit the City Hall lately rarely see the legendary Counselor, Changli, as they would report.

Although Counselor Changli never has been a public figure, as the most trusted aide to the Jinzhou Magistrate, she is known to everyone in Jinzhou. However, there are varied and strange restless rumors about her.

It is said that Counselor Changli, during her time in the capital, proposed the renovation of the Shelter Homes across Huanglong to provide a better home for the refugees who lost their homes in the Lament's aftermath; she also pushed for the reduction of commercial taxes in Jinzhou and allocate food and funds to better relieve Jinzhou from the aftermaths of the Battle Beneath the Crescent.

It is said that as soon as Counselor Changli arrived at the City Hall, she effortlessly resolved two bandit forces that had been entrenched around Jinzhou for a long time. Just a conversation and an "obvious trap" were enough to make the two forces suspicious of and fight each other until neither was a threat anymore.

It is said that Counselor Changli did not become a Counselor after the Sentinel chose the Jinzhou Magistrate, but she had long volunteered to come to Jinzhou, to teach the young Jinhsi, and to help her take over the power that was too heavy for a child.

"Is that true? The version I heard said those were actions carried out by the previous Secretary-General, and she was only demoted to the border because she offended the power that was, right?"

"Well, from what I heard, she became a direct disciple of Master Xuanmiao and was recommended by the previous Secretary-General. Her orations and debates throughout the realm have convinced all the great minds of our country. How could she be a flatterer?"

"What are you talking about? I heard she is the descendant of a great hermit, and she came to Jinzhou because her family needs a voice in the power centers..."

As people gossiped about her, Changli remained unfazed. When she passed by those whispering behind her back, her gaze gently but firmly silenced their words.

Rumors spread like wildfire about the new Jinzhou Magistrate, chosen by the Sentinel. A young girl, seemingly not yet of age, held this powerful position. Some whispered that Changli had too much influence and sought to overthrow the current Magistrate before taking over herself.

After the ceremony, Changli gave up power to Jinhsi and became her Counselor. In three years, life improved for everyone in Jinzhou, and they were grateful to the Magistrate. However, nobody knew how much Changli helped behind the scenes.

Those who have met Changli all say that she always has a gentle smile, and treats everyone from generals to soldiers equally, but when she is alone, she always has a kind of awe-inspiring aura that turns potential visitors away.

"Last time I met Counselor Changli at the Patrol Station, she seemed super interested in the courtyard trees, for some reason... I thought she had important duties to attend to, but she just spent a whole afternoon... watching ants..."

"And then?"

"Then a wanted suspect suddenly turned himself in! We were initially wary, thinking it was a trap. But when Counselor Changli appeared, the villain became visibly frightened and confessed everything, even old cases that were still unsolved. It was the biggest case of my career..."

"What about Counselor Changli?"

"She left at some point. We didn't even notice. Hmm, she really is an inscrutable person..."

Before becoming Jinhsi's tutor, Changli had only met her once when she was a young girl.

While in Jinzhou, Changli once heard chanting from a nearby room while walking inside the City Hall. A young girl sat amidst stacks of books, struggling to grasp theories beyond her years.

"'He who can't see the cause of order or chaos shall not make law'... But how can I see the very roots of everything? How can I gain such insights?" While she chanted, the girl could not help but fall muddled.

That hard-working, petite figure reminded Changli of how she used to struggle in a similarly desperate way to swallow as much knowledge as possible, trying to become an adult she wasn't.

She followed the impulse to lean forward and answered the little girl's doubt.

"Thank you, madam. You have enlightened me," the girl expressed her gratitude word by word, with her immature voice. After a moment of careful hesitation, she looked up again and asked, "Then, how should I become a good Magistrate, and bring order to this city?"

"Why this question?"

"The people of Jinzhou have long fallen victim to warfare. I want to bring them peace and prosperity."

"...That is no easy task."

"True, but I must try everything I can."

"Peace and Prosperity"...

As Changli gazed into the girl's eyes, she saw determination and strength, like little sparkles of starlight.

"Very well. Then I will aid you in fulfilling your wish," she declared.

Eventually, the girl became the Magistrate of Jinzhou, appointed by its Sentinel. As Jinhsi works tirelessly at City Hall, Changli remains by her side, answering questions and offering advice whenever needed.

To most, heroic tales are too grand and inconsequential. They only value simple comforts like a warm meal and restful sleep as ways to improve life.

"A Magistrate shouldn't get lost in bureaucracy, but rather engage with the people," Changli warned Jinhsi.

"Yes, my teacher," Jinhsi obeyed. Through the traditional Jinzhou wish-making rituals, Jinhsi managed to build a connection with the citizens and worked towards a thriving, empathetic city.

Changli watches as Jinhsi is crowded by excited people, whose faces are no longer covered by gloom and fatigue, but true delight and gratitude.

Now that a wise governor has emerged in Jinzhou, neither the people nor the capital would doubt Jinhsi's competency.

"Do as you wish, I will support you," Changli said as she sowed seeds of knowledge and lit up Jinhsi's path ahead. The torch set the sky ablaze, illuminating the future of this young girl.

Despite Jinhsi's lingering childishness, she knew this girl would one day become a capable Magistrate, protecting every inch of Jinzhou. Just as her master had done for her, she would guide her student and light the way forward.

The owner of Yanqing Bookstore, Changqing, recently encountered two strange incidents.

The first involves his business.

With so many to be offered from the vast and rich land of Huanglong, items popular in Jinzhou are never there to stay. Recently, paper books have fallen out of fashion and the local bookstore has suffered.

However, business has unexpectedly picked up in the past few days, and Changqing's bookstore has seen an influx of customers.

Many of the customers at the bookstore appeared to be officials from the Central Court, judging by their attire.

When a puzzled Changqing asked them about it, most mentioned that the Secretary-General had recommended this particular place.

The Secretary-General? Although he knew there was a new Secretary-General in office, Changqing couldn't fathom why someone like him, a humble bookstore owner, would be tied to such high-ranking individuals.

The second strange incident revolves around the neglected facade of Yanqing Bookstore.

Under the weight of depression, it had been left unattended for too long. Even the grocer next door advised Changqing to repair the gate before it deterred potential customers.

"Changqing, you should fix your gate. If it gets worse, no one will ever visit your store!"

"Don't worry. Although my store may not be as fancy as those in the capital, I have the greatest collection of antique and classic texts. People will surely find out!"

While he might have appeared confident, Changqing was uncertain about renovating the old store himself. He considered hiring someone during the current boom in business.

The next day, he arrived at the store to find that the facade had miraculously transformed overnight. The plaque and gate were gleaming, proudly displaying "Yanqing Bookstore."

A note on the counter read, "In gratitude for the bookstore owner's kindness, I took the liberty to do some renovation work as a thank you gesture."

The note was not signed, but the vermilion-colored feather pattern on the paper seemed somewhat familiar. Changqing held the note and slowly sat down, falling into memory.

More than decade ago, the bookstore was thriving with customers coming and going. One day, a little girl around eight or nine years old started sneaking in and spending whole afternoons reading books.

Initially, Changqing didn't mind when customers read without purchasing as long as it didn't damage the books or affect business.

But after several days of declining sales and fewer customers, he grew concerned.

"So hot. It's too hot in here! I can't stand it anymore. Let's go somewhere else!"

Despite the early autumn weather, the room was unusually sultry. Changqing wiped his forehead and searched carefully, eventually finding a little girl curled up under a bookshelf, completely engrossed in her book.

In front of her, a fire was floating, heating up the whole premise as the girl was absorbed into the world of the books. This sight filled Changqing with rage.

"What are you doing, kid? You're burning my store!"

The girl was startled by a shout, immediately snuffing out the fire. Changqing watched as the page she held tightly turned yellow, as if it would catch fire soon.

"You, you are...!"

The girl hurriedly threw the book away. Her flushed face revealed a mix of panic and guilt as she surveyed the charred pages.

"Sorry, it's too dark here, I just wanted to make it brighter..."

As Changqing saw his beloved book being damaged, he couldn't help but remember the recent decline in sales. His face darkened as he grabbed a broom from the side of the bookshelf and prepared to strike the girl responsible.

However, she was surprisingly quick for her slender frame. When Changqing pursued her out of the bookstore, all he could see was her fiery red hair disappearing in the bustling market. He stood at the gate, fuming and bewildered.

"Never show your face again!"

"What's wrong?" The grocer next door came out with a smile and asked, "Isn't that the little girl who can control fire?"

"You know her? She almost burned down my store!"

"Hey, she's a good girl, I kid you not. Helped me out a few days ago, just to get some steamed buns. It's a pity she had to walk here alone, so young and all. I heard her hometown was attacked by the TD Outbreak and no one made it. Not sure how she managed to escape..."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"Well, you didn't ask! But now that this happened... she probably won't come back again."

The little girl disappeared down the alley, and sounds of children playing drifted over from the neighboring walls. Changqing gazed at the book lying on the ground, unsure of what to feel.

Business at Yanqing Bookstore had returned to normal, with a steady stream of book lovers, but the little girl who used to read quietly between the bookshelves was nowhere to be seen.

To Changqing's surprise, the girl returned a week later.

"This is all my money. I swear, I earned it! Sorry for the books I burned... Only you have the books I'm looking for. Please, may I..."

The girl bit her lip, timidly placing the scattered Shell Credits from her hands on the counter. Her petite figure was not even as tall as the counter, so only half of her head was visible. She was on her tiptoes, her body slightly trembling, but her bright, somewhat stubborn eyes were still fixed on him, and wouldn't evade.

"...Alright."

After all the days, Changqing's anger had long since subsided. He waved his hand, "Go, take your money, and don't disturb my business."

The girl bowed and left without a word. She kept stopping and looking back as she walked away. Changqing sighed heavily, watching her frail figure and worn-out clothes in silence. He rose, grabbed a lamp, and gave it to the girl with the store's spare key.

"Take it. Don't use fire for light anymore. Come read at night when there are no customers."

"..."

"I'm not letting you read for free. You'll need to open the shop for me in the morning."

"T-thank you, sir..."

It was his first glimpse of the girl's innocent, beaming smile.

After their initial encounter, the girl became a regular at Changqing Bookstore. As arranged, she would only come in the evenings and spend her time solely absorbed in reading. In the mornings, when Changqing returned, he always found the store immaculately clean and organized.

During colder days, the girl also visited during daylight hours. Despite the wintry gusts outside, the room was filled with a cozy warmth. Though Changqing occasionally glanced at her reading material, he could only make out books on literature and history.

The girl's calm demeanor belied her youth, only animated when lost in her books.

One day, the girl vanished. Rumors spread—was she taken by Tacet Discords? Or did she succumb to injuries on her journey to the capital city?

Seeing the flame pattern on the letter, Changqing felt a spark of hope. Could she still be alive?

"Excuse me?"

Changqing's reminiscing was interrupted by a tall, elegant lady standing at the counter. Her soft eyes and flame-colored hair, like a mythical bird's feathers, gently swayed in the wind. She placed some Shell Credits on the counter and asked with a smile, "Sir, only you have the books I'm looking for. Please, may I borrow them?"

She had transformed from a delicate girl to a confident young Secretary-General, the talk of the town. As the sun rose and filled the room with morning light, the aged bookshop owner chuckled and gestured for her to continue reading.

"Go on… Read it, even if you don't pay. I doubt I can force you to now."

Master Xuanmiao had been looking for a certain person.

Young Changli accompanied her aged mentor across the landscapes of Huanglong. Though he was initially reluctant to mentor another student, the revered elder dedicated himself to passing on every ounce of wisdom to her in their limited time together.

Master Xuanmiao was a devoted Weiqi player. During breaks on their weary journey, they would settle by the roadside to engage in intense matches. He utilized these moments not just for play but also as teaching opportunities for Changli, imparting wisdom on strategic thinking and power dynamics within each move. Sometimes, he would analyze an unfinished game of Weiqi with her, but he always seemed somewhat dissatisfied with her responses.

It was during these times that he would mention an old friend of his, hinting at a quest to reconnect with this individual through Changli's tutelage. Despite Changli's curiosity about this mysterious person's identity and location, her mentor would simply shake his head and tell her, "The time has not yet come."

On the day he felt his final moments approaching, he entrusted Changli with his Weiqi game record and his cherished journal. With solemnity, he told his devoted disciple, "In this unfinished game, you shall find the ultimate truth."

And so, carrying on the legacy of Master Xuanmiao, Changli embarked on her path ahead.

"...A celestial being descended, wielding the limitless might of the universe, embracing the inaugural Echo within..."

"...The enigmatic figure with eyes of gold amidst swirling clouds and waning lights."

"...Steadfastly by the side of Sentinel Jué, in a bond of intimate camaraderie."

Following the notes in her late mentor's journal, she continued her search, uncovering traces of that enigmatic figure in various unexpected places. At times, it was the captivating tales spun by seasoned storytellers; elsewhere, it was mere slivers gleaned from ancient archives. Like a silent guardian, this person acted as a sturdy anchor in turbulent seas, leading humanity through the wreckage of past calamities towards a hopeful horizon. The subtle imprints they left behind wove an almost imperceptible yet unyielding thread that bridged vast stretches of time and history far surpassing the ordinary span of mortal lives.

She had been told that the signs of that person's arrival would be impossible to miss. That said person had the power to truly change the world. However, her vision of a peaceful and prosperous world required more than mere hopeful anticipation of a savior. Understanding that achieving her dreams necessitated acquiring substantial power and influence, she embarked on a journey through diverse lands, immersing herself in wisdom, and persisting through every challenge without faltering to meet the expectations placed upon her.

Upon assuming the esteemed role of Secretary-General, she at last gained entry into the revered Grand Libraries. Within the vast expanse of knowledge stored within their walls, she uncovered a pivotal revelation: a clue leading her to Jinzhou, a border city in Huanglong.

From then on, everything unfolded precisely as Sentinel Jué predicted. The person she had been searching for emerged in Jinzhou and protected the city from a reviving Threnodian. The once nebulous being from ancient records and myths now solidified into a clear and distinct presence within her mind.

On the day of their foretold encounter, she returned to Jinzhou from Mingting, the capital city of Huanglong. She witnessed the esteemed guest of Jinzhou waiting at the ferry port in the rain, looking uncertain.

Following the prophecies of Jué, she had faith that their paths would converge at the right moment.

And that awaited moment was upon her.

Concealing a whirlwind of emotions behind her gaze, she advanced towards them with measured steps. Using her paper umbrella adorned with a spirit bird motif, she gently angled it to provide cover from the rain, as their eyes locked in a wordless exchange. The sole audible presence was the hushed melody of raindrops tapping against her umbrella.

She smiled and softly asked, "Are you trapped here by the rain?"