Just as he finished typing this message and was about to write the next sentence, a series of messages flashed across the jade mirror:
[One: What insider information?]
[Two: What secret do you know?]
[Four: Does Number Three have a secret about Sangbo?]
[Five: Can you tell us?]
[Six: Amitabha,]
[Nine: Please speak, young friend.]
“…” Liu Qi’an, squatting in the smelly latrine, was stunned for a moment.
Everyone seemed very interested in this matter. It made sense, after all, it concerned the national treasure sword of Da Feng. No one would be indifferent to such top-level secrets.
Especially since the members of the Tiandiqi Hui weren’t ordinary people; they all had powerful backing or were strong enough themselves.
Such people cared more about these top-level secrets. Even if it didn’t concern them directly, who knows when this information might prove invaluable.
[Three: It wasn’t a First-Grade expert who attacked. I’m almost certain of this.]
Liu Qi’an didn’t make an absolute statement.
After a pause, he wrote: [Three: But why should I tell you?]
No one spoke for a while.
Heh, not bad. No one jumped out like an idiot saying: “Didn’t we agree to share information and help each other?”
This was pleasant. If there were argumentative types or freeloaders in the group, his plan wouldn’t work well.
Liu Qi’an continued: [Daoist Jin Lian, I think there’s a flaw in the Tiandiqi Hui. If we don’t address it, the Hui will always be just a loose organization of people who don’t trust each other, with limited benefits for everyone.]
[Nine: Please elaborate, young friend.]
[Three: Indeed, mutual assistance and information sharing are the principles of the Tiandiqi Hui, but it’s too idealistic. I can tell everyone this secret, but what do I get in return? Nothing.
[I share this secret, while people like Number One who like to lurk silently enjoy the benefits without contributing.
[After a few times, I’ll become unwilling to share information or secrets.]
[One: Who are you calling a freeloader?]
Number One seemed a bit angry.
I’m talking about you, you’re the one who likes to lurk… Liu Qi’an ignored Number One and continued: [Daoist, members of the Tiandiqi Hui are strangers to each other, scattered across the land. We lack a foundation of trust and contribution. Who would selflessly give to strangers?]
Liu hated freeloaders the most and was determined to eliminate such behavior.
In essence, he was asking: Why should I share my secrets with you?
[Nine: Young friend, your words are most reasonable.]
Seeing this, Liu Qi’an grinned: [I’m glad you agree, Daoist. I believe everyone else agrees too?]
The Tiandiqi Hui members remained silent.
[Three: Daoist, I have an idea. When you gave me the Third Fragment, it was sealed and couldn’t communicate with other fragments. Can we use this feature?]
[Nine: What do you have in mind, young friend?]
Daoist Jin Lian.
[Let me give an example. I could sell the secret about Sangbo in the Tiandiqi Hui for 500 taels of gold. Those who want the information can message me through the Earth Book, and you, Daoist, could help seal the fragments of those not intending to buy.
[Of course, I’m not concerned about mere money. But if someone doesn’t have equivalent information to trade, I could allow payment in gold and silver.]
Come on, hurry up and buy my information with silver. I want to buy a big house in the inner city… Liu Qi’an changed his squatting position, staring at the mirror surface with anticipation.
At this moment, even the smelly latrine seemed to become fragrant.
[Nine: To be honest, although this poor Daoist knows the spell to seal the Earth Book, my injuries haven’t fully healed. When I snuck back to the Earth Sect that day, I awakened a strand of the Sect Leader’s primordial spirit. The Earth Book was sealed, and I was severely injured. If not for this, I wouldn’t be in such a sorry state.]
… The smile gradually faded from Liu Qi’an’s face.
He had guessed correctly that Daoist Jin Lian must have had a way to control or reclaim the Earth Book fragments he had given to the Tiandiqi Hui members.
But while he had guessed the beginning, he hadn’t anticipated the end.
This meant that the private chat function couldn’t be enabled anytime soon.
Seeing that no one had spoken for a long time, Number One transmitted a message somewhat urgently.
He (or she) didn’t want to see this transaction end without a result.
[One: How about this: you can reveal the secret to us, and we promise to exchange equivalent information or pay in gold and silver.]
[Four: But there’s still a loophole. For example, if I exchange an equally valuable secret with Number Three, Three doesn’t lose out, but my secret is obtained by other members at no cost.]
[Two: Also, we’re scattered across the land. Even if we want to buy your secret, how do we get the silver to you?]
Everyone eagerly expressed their views and concerns.
Liu Qi’an’s mouth curled into a smile. The Tiandiqi Hui members not only valued the secret he held but also saw potential benefits for themselves.
If his idea was implemented, they too could exchange their information for rewards.
Good, good. Interest drives motivation. This is how a business gathering should be.
[Three: Before Daoist Jin Lian recovers, how about this: I can tell you the secret, and you can exchange it for equivalent information or gold and silver, but on credit. You don’t need to pay immediately. This addresses Four’s concern. As for Two’s worry, I haven’t thought of a solution yet, but you can still owe me and pay with equivalent information in the future.]
That should solve the problem… everyone thought.
[One: I have no objections.]
[Two: Me neither.]
[Four: Alright, let’s go with Three’s idea.]
[Five: I’m okay with it~]
[Six: Me too.]
[Three: Why have Seven and Eight been silent all along? If you don’t express your opinions, this deal can’t be made.]
Daoist Jin Lian jumped in to explain: [Seven has been missing since last year. Eight is in closed-door cultivation. Let’s exclude them for now.]
[Four: But Seven is still alive, right?]
[Two: I have Seven’s Earth Book fragment… He faked his death for certain reasons and went into hiding.]
[Three: Then I have no problem with this.]
Liu Qi’an paused for a few seconds, then entered another message: [I heard a cry for help from Sangbo!]
A cry for help from Sangbo?!
Number Three’s casual statement struck the Tiandiqi Hui members like a thunderbolt.
The lake where the founding emperor of Da Feng achieved enlightenment, which houses the national treasure sword, cried for help coming from it…
Who was calling for help?
To whom were they calling?
The Earth Book chat group fell into an eerie silence. After a long while, the usually reticent Number One was the first to respond: [Impossible!]
Everyone’s attention immediately returned to the Earth Book fragments, but after waiting for a long time, there was no response from Number Three.
Of course, Number Three was a disciple of the Yunlu Academy, proud and arrogant, too disdainful to argue.
This indirectly proved that what Number Three said was true. Such a haughty scholar wouldn’t deign to lie.
Number One seemed to understand this too. After the initial outburst of doubt, he didn’t speak again.
[Four: It’s truly an unbelievable piece of news.]
[Nine: This secret is extremely valuable.]
[Two: Could there be something imprisoned under Sangbo? What do you think?]
Number Two offered a guess.
Liu Qi’an’s heart stirred. So I’m not the only one thinking this way.
[Five: Wow, is there a supreme demon sealed in Da Feng’s Sangbo? Hey, One, Three, Four, you’re all from Da Feng, does this remind you of anything?]
[Six: No need to ask. One doesn’t know, and as we all know, One is an important figure in the court. This means that possibly only the royal family, or even just Emperor Yuanjing himself, knows about this.]
[One: I’ll try to investigate this matter. Three, if I make progress, can I use it to offset your information?]
[Three: Heh, that depends on what you can find out.]
After waiting for five minutes with no further messages, Liu Qi’an confirmed that these uncouth netizens had gone offline.
He put away the jade mirror and left the latrine, taking a few deep breaths of fresh air, feeling alive again.
“If toilets in my past life were like this, it would cure the bad habit of sitting for half an hour… because no one would want to play with their phone in such an environment…” Liu Qi’an added mentally: A smelly latrine is the best doctor for treating hemorrhoids.
Returning to the side hall, Zhu Guangxiao was practicing breathing exercises, while Song Tingfeng was flipping through a forbidden erotic book – of course, not about Emperor Yuanjing and the beautiful National Preceptor.
“Did you go to give birth?” Song Tingfeng narrowed his eyes and sneered teasingly.
“Yes,” Liu Qi’an nodded, comfortably leaning back in his chair, and said seriously: “You scoundrel, that was your child.”
Beside him, Zhu Guangxiao’s breath hitched, and he opened his eyes with a look of surprise, glancing at Liu Qi’an.
Song Tingfeng shuddered, cupped his hands, and lowered his head to continue reading.
He considered himself the carefree type, outgoing, always smiling at people. The kind of personality that could handle anyone with ease.
But when it came to Liu Qi’an, Song Tingfeng felt he was still too much of a gentleman.
Many times, even knowing the other was joking, he just couldn’t adapt and would lose the exchange.
“Let’s go to the Jiaofang Si tonight,” Song Tingfeng suggested. “I’ll invite a few colleagues. You can teach everyone that Russian roulette game.”
After a pause, he said with a serious expression: “After what happened with Yang Jinluo and Jiang Jinluo, there are quite a few people in the office who are jealous of you and dislike you privately.
“You need to socialize more, not just hang out with me and Zhu Guangxiao all the time.”
Zhu Guangxiao opened his eyes and nodded in agreement: “That’s right, I often hear people talking bad about you behind your back.”
Liu Qi’an, who originally didn’t want to play with them, hesitated for a moment before nodding.
He wasn’t a hot-headed youth and understood the principle that the tallest tree catches the most wind.
Since joining the Watchmen, he had indeed neglected socializing with his colleagues, mainly because he was always meeting with Wei Yuan and mingling with the Court of Judicial Astronomy’s wizards, which had elevated his perspective.
So, under Song Tingfeng’s guidance, he found a few familiar copper gongs who were also under Silver Gong Li Yuchun’s command and arranged to meet them at the Jiaofang Si that night.
Of course, there was no question of who would pay. Everyone knew the prices at the Jiaofang Si were beyond what an ordinary copper gong could afford.
However, Liu Qi’an casually said, “Let’s book the entire Yingmei Pavilion. I’ll take care of it.”
The copper gongs were immediately fired up and excited.
Song Tingfeng pulled Liu Qi’an to a corner, rubbing his hands, and said: “Ning Yan, you’re such a good brother… Um, will Miss Fuxiang be joining?”
Liu Qi’an glanced at him sideways: “Call me daddy, and I’ll answer you.”
Song Tingfeng, being a flexible man, immediately acknowledged him as a father.
Liu Qi’an said: “Of course not.”
“…” Song Tingfeng angrily said: “You bastard, take that back, or we’re not done here.”
Liu Qi’an ignored him and slipped away.
Who was Fuxiang? A renowned courtesan, a top-tier socialite. Her willingness to sleep with Liu Qi’an was akin to a kind of favored relationship.
In this era, having a favored relationship with a brothel girl was very common.
It was especially common among scholars.
But Fuxiang wasn’t Liu Qi’an’s servant, nor was she a concubine to be casually passed around like a commodity.
Someone of Fuxiang’s price and status would never agree to such a thing. It was a pipe dream.
Liu Qi’an didn’t want to create any resentment or even break his relationship with the courtesan over this.
…
In the Archives, Chamber A.
Sandalwood incense burned, its blue smoke rising straight as a line. Sunlight filtered through the latticed window, casting regular, orderly patches of light on the floor.
Wei Yuan closed the thick “Thirteen Classics of Da Feng” and pondered for a moment before getting up to pull out a volume of “Chronicles of the Nine Provinces: Western Regions” from the bookshelf.
The sandalwood burned to ash, falling into the small censer.
Wei Yuan closed all the books and tiredly pinched the bridge of his nose. Without realizing it, the stack of books beside him had grown as tall as his shoulder.
“Foster father, have you discovered anything?” Nangong Qianrou finally found an opportunity to ask.
“I think I know what’s going on,” Wei Yuan sighed.
“What secret is hidden in Sangbo?” Nangong Qianrou asked.
“That’s not for you to know.” Wei Yuan shook his head and warned sternly: “Forget what happened today. Don’t investigate, don’t discuss it privately.”
Yang Yan and Nangong Qianrou both lowered their heads: “Yes.”
…
At dusk, after finishing work.
Ten watchmen, including Liu Qi’an, entered the Jiaofang Si alley with their heads held high.
During this period of the imperial examination when all officials were on edge, the watchmen could strut through the Jiaofang Si.
“Ning Yan, will Courtesan Fuxiang see us?”
“I’ve heard that Courtesan Fuxiang hasn’t entertained guests for a long time.”
“Will they let us book the entire Yingmei Pavilion?”
The copper gongs were somewhat doubtful because the Jiaofang Si catered primarily to scholars, with various entertainment programs geared towards serving them.
This was the social norm.
Although watchmen monitored officials and were quite powerful, they had a mutually restraining relationship with officials.
If they caused trouble at the Jiaofang Si, the Ministry of Rites would be delighted, eager to seize the opportunity to impeach the watchmen.
So, if Courtesan Fuxiang was unwilling to entertain them, the copper gongs would have to leave, losing face in the process.
However, the Russian roulette game proposed by Liu Qi’an was too tempting. After hearing about it, the watchmen first denounced Liu Qi’an for corrupting public morals, but when asked if they wanted to go, they agreed quickly.
Arriving at the Yingmei Pavilion, the copper gongs involuntarily slowed their pace, making the unremarkable Liu Qi’an in their midst stand out.
Liu Qi’an removed his waist sword, tapped the young attendant’s bottom with the scabbard, and said with a relaxed smile: “Go tell your mistress, I want to book the entire place.”