Chapter 15: Requesting a Title

Five years ago, the previous magistrate of Wuliu County had planned to grant the title of Lord of Bibo Lake to Old Turtle, appointing him as the protector of these waters for generations to come. However, before this could be finalized, Magistrate Li took office, and the matter was inevitably shelved. Not long ago, Old Turtle entered Magistrate Li’s dreams to plead for his investiture. But this new magistrate was a strict, upright official, well-read in the classics and somewhat inflexible in his ways. He harbored a deep aversion to mountain spirits and monsters; for Old Turtle to intrude upon his dreams as a spirit was to trespass on the magistrate’s deepest taboos. In the dream, Magistrate Li not only drove him away but threatened to suppress him with the official seal. The seal bore the mandate of the nation and was potent enough to subdue even the most powerful demons. As the chief of the county, guarded by the nation’s fortune, official authority, and the aura of literary merit, Magistrate Li was immune to all evil—he needed no cultivation to cut down monsters.

After this, Old Turtle’s dreams of investiture were shattered. Resentful, he sought to cause a stir in Bibo Lake, hoping to demonstrate his power to Magistrate Li. Thus, today’s events unfolded. Old Turtle had never truly intended to eat the child; he merely wanted to put on a show. In the end, he gained nothing and instead provoked Xu Xuan, a person of ill fortune for demons, who was now determined to kill him for turtle soup.

“This matter has weighed on my heart for years. I beg you, sir, to help me,” Old Turtle said earnestly, his tone tinged with pleading.

Understanding Old Turtle’s predicament, Xu Xuan pondered for a moment before replying, “Let me go ashore and ask the local people. If you have indeed benefited this land, I will see to your investiture myself.”

“You are truly a man of honor!” Old Turtle’s face lit up with joy at these words, nodding repeatedly to Xu Xuan. Watching Xu Xuan’s departing figure, Old Turtle sighed in admiration: a scholar who discerns right from wrong, who acts with honor and reason, is indeed different from the usual brute. If Xu Xuan could help him achieve this, Old Turtle thought, he would gladly give his daughter in marriage as thanks.

At this thought, Old Turtle’s massive head involuntarily turned toward Zhao Jinqian, and a faint smile crept to his lips.

On the shore of Bibo Lake, Pi Wu was already dragging several people out of the water. Having survived such an ordeal, those who had shared a boat with Xu Xuan were soaked to the bone, pale, and completely unnerved. The giant monster that had surfaced had thrown all the fishermen into panic—none dared linger on the water, and everyone scrambled ashore. Some fishermen had already fled, terrified the monster would devour them; others, braver, remained at the water’s edge to watch, unwilling to be scared off.

These bold villagers whispered among themselves, speculating whether Xu Xuan had survived. As their discussion grew heated, ripples suddenly disturbed the water.

“Oh no, the monster is coming out!” someone shouted, and the onlookers scattered in fright.

“Please, everyone, stay where you are!” Just as the villagers prepared to flee, a loud voice stopped them in their tracks. Turning, they saw Xu Xuan standing serenely upon the water. His black hair cascaded like a waterfall, his brows were sharp, his eyes bright, his bearing as graceful as a willow in the wind, and his clothes fluttered around him. He looked like an exiled immortal come to earth, possessed of a singular, noble air.

Seeing Xu Xuan alive, the crowd stopped, their eyes wide with disbelief.

“Do not be afraid,” Xu Xuan called out. “The water monster has been subdued by me. It will harm no one again.”

At this, the villagers erupted in amazement.

“What? That pale-faced scholar subdued the monster?”

“Could he be a god or an immortal incarnate? How extraordinary!”

“Now I remember—he’s the scholar Xu who tamed the fish demon in Bibo Town.”

“Xu the scholar? Which Xu the scholar?”

“The prodigy Xu Xuan, who became famous throughout the prefecture at the age of ten with his poetry.”

The crowd’s chatter soon clarified Xu Xuan’s identity, and they all expressed their gratitude to him, full of praise and appreciation. After these courtesies, Xu Xuan turned to the matter at hand.

“My fellow villagers, may I ask—has that water spirit ever harmed the people here?”

“To tell you the truth, Scholar Xu, Bibo Lake has been peaceful for many years. This is the first time such a creature has attacked a person.”

“I see. That answers my question.”

Satisfied with their reply, Xu Xuan understood that Old Turtle had spoken truthfully. He had never eaten a human and had always protected these waters; today’s disturbance had its cause.

He had promised to help Old Turtle gain investiture, and now it was time to fulfill his word. Magistrate Li had met Xu Xuan several times, and there was some friendship between them. Back when Xu Xuan’s poetry had astonished the entire prefecture, he was lauded as a prodigy. Many distinguished scholars wished to take him as their disciple and guide his path.

In the Great Qian Dynasty, political factions were commonplace, and connections were valued in officialdom. The closest ties were those of fellow students; once in office, classmates could support each other. A teacher, meanwhile, was the patron and backer for one’s career—hence the saying that it is good to have connections in high places.

A wise bird chooses a fine tree for its nest. After much deliberation, Xu Xuan had chosen to study under a certain Scholar Zhou, a bona fide metropolitan official with deep connections. Their master-disciple bond was established, and as long as Xu Xuan passed the civil service examinations, his career would flourish, sparing him many hardships others endured.

Though Magistrate Li was the chief of the county, compared to Scholar Zhou, he was of little consequence. Despite his rigid scholarly demeanor, Magistrate Li was a veteran of officialdom and well understood how the world worked. His favor toward Lin Luo was, in part, an attempt to curry favor with Xu Xuan.

Xu Xuan immediately wrote a letter and had the local villagers dispatch it posthaste to the county office. After a while, the messenger returned, accompanied by two constables.

“Master Xu!” The two men greeted Xu Xuan with great respect, not daring to put on airs. Xu Xuan held an official degree, and his brother-in-law, Lin Luo, was their superior—they dared not be negligent.

After a brief exchange, the constables handed Xu Xuan a letter from Magistrate Li. Xu Xuan opened it at once; it was indeed in Magistrate Li’s own hand. In the letter, Magistrate Li agreed to Xu Xuan’s request and promised to come in person in a few days to formally invest Old Turtle as River Lord of Bibo Lake. Moreover, he would report the matter to the imperial court so that Old Turtle’s title would be officially registered and recognized.

With this definitive reply, Xu Xuan’s mind was set at ease. He returned to the lake, explained everything, and handed Old Turtle the letter.

Reading the letter, Old Turtle was beside himself with joy, spinning in circles in the water.

“Old friend, the matter is settled, but you frightened the villagers earlier. Will you come ashore and reveal your true form to them?”

“I will do as you say, sir.”

“Godfather, as the new River Lord, you should let the people around you know you officially,” Zhao Jinqian chimed in.

“Well said!” Old Turtle agreed.

After their discussion, Xu Xuan sat upright on Old Turtle’s back as he slowly rose from the depths to the surface. When the villagers saw Xu Xuan riding a turtle as large as a hill, they were struck dumb in astonishment. As Xu Xuan rode the giant turtle ashore, many were so frightened they trembled and dared not approach.

Old Turtle, understanding their fear, let his body flash with a gentle light and transformed into an old man with a cane, a long head, large ears, and a short, stout frame. This white-haired elder looked kindly and benevolent, his brow prominent like the Star of Longevity himself.