I Am Immortal in Great Yu

Chapter 187: Chapter 78: Exotic Beast

’Damn! They said it contained a few words about Spirit Masters, and they really meant a *few* words. No exaggeration whatsoever.’

Having read through the entire Chang Sanliu’s Travelogue, Fang Rui narrowed his eyes. ’That Chang Family ancestor, Chang Sanliu, just happened to run into a Spirit Master, made some small talk, and learned a few things. It seems the Great Medicines and Spirit Medicines used by Martial Artists are mostly connected to Spirit Masters.’

’Also, it seems Spirit Masters have some sort of taboo, but the Spirit Master didn’t mention it, so Chang Sanliu didn’t know what it was.’

He had originally thought there would be clues to a Spirit Master’s inheritance—ruins, Secret Realms, or hidden abodes—where he could hunt for treasure and begin a thrilling adventure.

’I guess I was overthinking things! It makes sense, though. If there really were any ruins or an inheritance, the Chang Family would have gone after it themselves. How could it possibly be left for me?’

He could let that go, however.

What Fang Rui found more important was something else: in the Twenty-Eighth Year of Emperor Gaozong, a great flood struck the Four Eastern States, leading to countless deaths. The White Lotus Bandits rose in rebellion but were suppressed within a year. And yet... by the Thirtieth Year of Emperor Gaozong, when Chang Sanliu traveled to the east, he found it had already become a scene of thriving prosperity.

’That was about fifty years ago, if my calculations are right,’ he thought. ’But that doesn’t add up! Didn’t the Great Yu Dynasty only start teetering on the verge of collapse in the last couple of years? How did it look like it was about to be finished fifty years ago?’

A huge question welled up in Fang Rui’s mind. ’How did the Great Yu hang on by a thread and recover? Was there some final burst of life? Did a figure like Zhang Juzheng appear and extend the dynasty’s lifespan by fifty years? But how could it be such a coincidence?’

Moreover, the situation in the Four Eastern States back then was so similar to the Three Southern States today!

’Unfortunately, the travelogue doesn’t contain any more details.’

Fang Rui shook his head, then suddenly recalled something else. ’Back in Changshan City, I browsed the bookshops, but I never found any books about history. I just assumed it was because Changshan City was too small and that things would be different in a Prefecture City or a State City.’

’Thinking about it now, it’s probably not that simple!’

After a moment of thought, he suddenly turned and asked into the carriage, ”Mother, Third Sister, do you know which dynasty came before the Yu Dynasty?”

Fang Rui searched his memories carefully but realized he had no information whatsoever about a previous dynasty.

—It was the kind of thing, like an inconspicuous trinket in the corner of a room, that you’d never think to ask about unless you were specifically looking for it.

”Brother Rui, what nonsense are you talking about? It’s always been the Yu Dynasty. What other dynasties could there be?”

”That’s right, I’ve never heard of any others!”

Both Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and the Third Lady spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Hearing this answer, Fang Rui felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His expression changed, and he immediately stood up to go ask some of the caravan members.

The answer was the same: There was no previous dynasty. It has always been the Great Yu!

When these people said this, they spoke as if stating a simple fact, as natural as ”water flows downhill.” But to Fang Rui, a transmigrator, it sounded utterly preposterous.

Under the bright sun, Fang Rui felt a chill run through him, as if he had just heard a horror-story version of the tale of Peach Blossom Spring.

’My mother and Third Sister are one thing; you could say they’re just poorly informed. But these caravan members are the most knowledgeable people around. If there was a previous dynasty, even if they didn’t know the specifics, shouldn’t they at least know its name?’

Could it be that, aside from the Yu Dynasty, there truly have been no others?

’No, perhaps it’s just been too long, and the previous dynasty has been lost to history. But for an entire dynasty to be forgotten, it would take at least a thousand years, if not more...’

But how could there be a dynasty in this world that lasts for a thousand years without falling?!

Take the most immediate problem: the dynastic cycle, the conflicts between population and land. In his past life, countless brilliant minds had failed to solve it. How on earth did the Great Yu manage to do so?

’This isn’t a normal world, it’s an Extraordinary World. So being able to solve the dynastic cycle would make sense... Like hell it does!’

From what Fang Rui had seen, at least, the Extraordinary Power in this world wasn’t strong enough for a single person to wipe out an entire army.

In his estimation, even a First Grade expert, or someone even stronger, likely couldn’t do it.

In other words, it was still possible to overthrow the Great Yu!

Following this line of thought, Fang Rui uncovered even more questions.

’If the Great Yu has truly endured for so long, then it’s highly unlikely that any Noble Families would dare to back Li Xuantong’s uprising. So where did that formidable figure in the Rebel Army come from?’

’That formidable person in the Rebel Army is supposed to be smart. What is their goal, attempting the impossible?’

All these questions swirled in his mind, a tangled mess.

Fang Rui felt like the answer was right on the tip of his tongue, but he was missing some key element that would connect all the information and reveal the truth.

’One thing is for sure, though: the Great Yu has some deep, dark secrets! Very deep!’

Fang Rui’s sense of caution deepened.

’Don’t rush! Stay calm!’ he thought, his gaze profound. ’I have plenty of time. One day, all the secrets of this world will be unveiled to me.’

...

Over the next few days, whenever Steward Chen came by, Fang Rui would often ask him about history, geography, and other interesting tidbits.

Steward Chen was happy to strengthen his relationship with Fang Rui, and the two of them hit it off. Sometimes, the steward would even stay for lunch and share some longer anecdotes.

It had to be said, the man was a traveling merchant through and through; his breadth of knowledge was impressive.

Even Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family, the Third Lady, Fang Ling, and Nannan listened with rapt attention. It was a novel experience, different from simply listening to stories.