Li Qingshan stood before a small mirror in his room, carefully observing the changes he had made to his conscious body. The face that had once looked like a twenty-year-old now showed signs of maturity—subtle lines around the eyes, a slightly more angular facial structure, and, most importantly, an aura of gravitas fitting for someone who had been through a lot.
*By using Body and Existence Comprehension,* he reflected, touching his cheek which now looked like that of a man in his early thirties, *I can control how this conscious body ages. Ten years in Hexin should show natural changes. People would start to notice if someone didn't age at all.*
This change wasn't merely cosmetic. With a more mature appearance, Li Qingshan felt he could take on a more authoritative role without arousing suspicion about how someone so young could possess such profound wisdom.
*And the timing is perfect,* he realized, hearing a knock at the door. *Because the responsibilities I now carry have far surpassed the boundaries of Hexin.*
"Master Li," Chen Wei's voice came from outside, "there's an envoy from Pingyang City who wishes to meet with you."
*Pingyang. The fifth city in two months to ask for help.*
Li Qingshan opened the door to find a middle-aged man in dusty travel clothes, his face showing deep fatigue and worry.
"Master Li Qingshan," the man said, bowing respectfully, "my name is Zhang Wei, an envoy from the Mayor of Pingyang. We heard about how you successfully handled the plague crisis in Hexin and helped several other cities overcome their problems. We... we are in very urgent need of assistance."
"Please, come in and sit," Li Qingshan said, gesturing for the man to enter. "Tell me what's happened."
"Pingyang is facing a severe drought. The wells are starting to run dry, crops have failed, and what's worse—conflicts are beginning to emerge between farmers and herders over the use of the remaining water sources. If this continues, we fear riots will break out."
Li Qingshan listened intently, his mind already analyzing the situation and recalling the principles that had proven successful in previous crises.
*Water management, resource allocation, conflict mediation, and most importantly—community cooperation. The same framework I've used elsewhere.*
"How long is the journey to Pingyang?" Li Qingshan asked.
"Three days by fast carriage, Master."
"Alright. I will depart tomorrow morning. In the meantime, send a message to the Mayor that the first step is to gather all stakeholders—farmers, herders, merchants, and community elders—for a meeting in two days. Tell them that the best solutions will come from themselves, not from me."
---
**Fifth Year**
The meeting room in Li Qingshan's Hexin home was now filled with maps of various cities and villages from across the province. Red dots marked places where crises had been successfully resolved, blue lines showed the communication and aid routes that had been established, and green circles indicated communities that were now part of a mutual support network.
Sister Lin came in with tea, observing the maps with a mix of pride and worry. "Qingshan, this is like a war room."
"Not a war room," Li Qingshan smiled, pointing to the network of lines connecting the various cities. "This is a peace room. A place where we plan how communities can help each other before a crisis becomes a conflict."
Over the past two years, Li Qingshan had helped resolve various crises: floods in Donghe, trade disputes in Xishan, livestock epidemics in Nanyang, and food shortages in Beilin. But more importantly, he had begun to link these cities in a network that enabled them to support one another.
"The system works like this," Li Qingshan explained to Sister Lin, pointing at the map. "Donghe has a surplus of rice but lacks timber. Xishan is rich in timber but needs metal for tools. Nanyang has healthy livestock but needs grain for feed. Beilin has a grain surplus but needs livestock for protein."
"So instead of each city struggling on its own..."
"They supply each other with what they need. And when there's a crisis in one place, the rest of the network can respond quickly."
Sister Lin shook her head in amazement. "And all of this started from how you handled the plague here."
"The same principles," Li Qingshan confirmed. "Community cooperation, resource sharing, a focus on mutual benefit rather than individual advantage. It's just applied on a larger scale now."
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Chen Wei entered with an urgent expression.
"Qingshan, there's a messenger from the provincial capital. The Governor wants to meet with you."
*The Governor.* Li Qingshan felt a mix of honor and apprehension. *This is a level of attention that is starting to get complicated.*
---
**Sixth Year**
The Governor's office in the provincial capital was an impressive room with expensive furniture and formal decorations. But Governor Liu himself was a surprisingly down-to-earth man, with sharp eyes and a practical manner.
"Master Li Qingshan," he said, standing to greet him, "your reputation as an effective problem-solver has reached my ears. The stories about the mutual aid network you've developed are... intriguing."
"Thank you for this audience, Your Excellency," Li Qingshan replied with appropriate formality. "Though I must clarify that this network is not my creation. I simply helped facilitate connections that were already naturally beneficial for the communities involved."
Governor Liu smiled in appreciation for the humility. "Modest and effective. A rare combination." He gestured for Li Qingshan to sit. "I want to propose something. The provincial government has been observing the success of the informal network you've helped coordinate. We would like to formalize it."
"Formalize it how?"
"Make it official provincial policy. A crisis management system based on inter-community cooperation, with you as the chief advisor. With adequate resources, proper authority to implement solutions, and appropriate compensation for the work you do."
Li Qingshan took a moment for careful consideration. *An official position would provide greater resources to help more people. But it would also create scrutiny, bureaucracy, and the potential for corruption in what has been a simple, well-functioning system.*
"Your Excellency," he said thoughtfully, "I am deeply honored by this proposal. But I would like to suggest an alternative approach."
"Which is?"
"Rather than making this an official government program, what if the government simply... supports and recognizes the existing network? Provide resources when needed, facilitate communication, but allow the actual coordination to remain community-based and voluntary?"
Governor Liu leaned back, clearly considering the proposal with interest.
"The advantage of this approach," Li Qingshan continued, "is that it preserves the flexibility and responsiveness that make the system effective, while avoiding the bureaucratic complications that could slow down responses in emergency situations."
"And you would still be willing to serve as the... informal coordinator?"
"Yes. But not as a government official. As a citizen with experience in community mediation and crisis management."
Governor Liu nodded slowly. "An interesting approach. Less official control, but potentially more effective implementation."
"Exactly. Government support with community autonomy."
---
**Seventh Year**
Li Qingshan stood in front of an assembly consisting of representatives from twenty-three cities and villages throughout the province. This annual meeting had become a tradition to coordinate activities, share best practices, and strengthen the bonds between the communities participating in the mutual aid network.
*From helping one sick neighbor to coordinating support for twenty-three communities,* he reflected, looking at the familiar faces of people who had become colleagues and friends in this work. *It's an organic growth from simple principles.*
"My friends," he began with a voice that carried authority earned through years of successful collaboration, "this year, we have successfully handled fifteen major crises, prevented three potential conflicts, and established five new partnership agreements for resource sharing."
A warm round of applause came from the audience.
"But more importantly," Li Qingshan continued, "is that in this process, we have all learned that true security doesn't come from stockpiling resources or building walls, but from building relationships."
"Master Li," one of the representatives from Donghe raised a hand, "there is a question about the sustainability of this system. How do we ensure that this cooperation continues even when... when individual leaders change?"
*Good question. And one that touches on something that has begun to occupy my thoughts.*
"That is exactly why," Li Qingshan replied, "our focus has always been on developing local capacity and leadership in each community. This network must be strong enough to function without depending on any single person or central authority."
*Including myself,* he added silently. *One day, I will leave this region. A sustainable system must be able to continue without me.*
"In the next few years," Li Qingshan announced, "we will begin a process of deliberate decentralization. Training more local coordinators, establishing redundant communication systems, and creating written protocols for common situations."
*Preparing for an eventual departure that is still more than twenty years away, but which requires gradual preparation if the transition is to be smooth.*
---
**Eighth Year**
In his small Hexin office, now filled with correspondence from communities all over the region, Li Qingshan sat with a stack of reports on the network's latest activities. Increased trade volumes, improved emergency response times, high satisfaction levels from participating communities.
*A successful model,* he realized with quiet pride. *A system that started from a simple desire to help neighbors has become a framework for regional cooperation that benefits hundreds of thousands of people.*
More importantly, the principles underlying this system—mutual aid, voluntary cooperation, a focus on shared benefit—had proven sustainable and scalable without losing their essential character.
*And now,* he thought, looking at the map that showed the expanded network, *it's time to begin the next phase: teaching others to do what I do, so this system can be replicated in other regions, and eventually, no longer be dependent on me.*
*Twenty-two years remaining to complete this transition and ensure that a meaningful legacy of this work will continue long after I move on to explore other parts of this vast world.*
The sound of laughter from children playing in the yard outside—his foster kids who were now teenagers, plus several students from the Hexin Little School—reminded him of another aspect of the legacy he was building: a generation raised with the values of cooperation, service, and community care.
*Roots that are growing deeper,* he smiled, turning back to the reports, *for fruits that will ripen for many years to come.*