Wei Yuan waved his hand, dismissing his two adopted sons from Haogi Tower.
Familiar with his anger, Nangong Qianrou left without a word of complaint or mockery.
Yang Yan stood at the bottom of the tower, waiting for his adoptive father to finish talking with Xu Qi An.
Only two people remained in the tea room. Wei Qingyi turned over an upside-down teacup and poured a cup of tea for Xu Qi An. “Is this about the Tiandi Society?”
“This lowly official indeed received a message from the Tiandi Society, originating from the Gu Clan in the Southern Borderlands,” Xu Qi An replied, somewhat flattered as he accepted the tea. He took a sip, finding it slightly bitter at first but with a fragrant aftertaste.
“Number Five within the Tiandi Society is from the Gu Clan and holds some status. Yesterday, they sent a message through the Earth Book, saying that the Gu God in the Extreme Abyss has shown signs of awakening.”
Wei Yuan’s expression faltered for a moment before he said, “Before the Jiazi Demon Purge, the Gu God was kept in check by the Gu Clan and the Myriad Beast Kingdom. Now that the Myriad Beast Kingdom has fallen and Buddhist temples cover their former lands, with few top-tier experts remaining if the Gu God truly awakens, the Gu Clan alone may not be able to resist.”
As he spoke, a look of worry flashed in his eyes. The Head of the Earth Sect falling into demonic ways, the Gu God showing signs of awakening, the Cloud Deer Academy’s pure energy soaring to the sky… These events all seemed to foretell that something ominous was about to happen.
Turmoil on all sides often heralded an era of great chaos.
“In recent years, the Buddhist sect’s ambitions for expansion have grown increasingly fierce,” Wei Yuan sighed.
Xu Qi An’s heart stirred. “Did the Buddhist sect destroy the Beast Kingdom years ago for the sake of spreading their teachings and expanding their influence?”
Wei Yuan sneered, “You don’t think it was for the sake of all living beings, do you?”
After a pause, he asked, “What do you have to report to me?”
Xu Qi An composed himself and said, “This lowly official has uncovered the truth about the sealed object beneath Sangbo Lake. This matter involves a secret from five hundred years ago and could potentially brew great trouble. Given my limited abilities, I dare not conceal it…”
Hearing this, a strange light flickered in Wei Yuan’s eyes, but he hid his shock well and probed, “Sealed object?”
“It’s the Supervisor, the First Supervisor,” Xu Qi An said in a low voice as if sharing a great secret and carefully preventing its leak. “Sealed beneath Sangbo Lake is the First Supervisor. Back then, when Wuzong usur… ascended to the throne through virtue, the First Supervisor did not support him. After Wuzong’s enthronement, historical records no longer mention the First Supervisor.”
Wei Yuan listened impassively and nodded slightly. “Your analysis is very reasonable.”
Xu Qi An pressed on, “Emperor Yuanjing hasn’t disclosed the situation to this day, keeping everyone in the dark. However, if the First Supervisor were to come into conflict with the current Supervisor, the capital…”
He didn’t continue, believing that with Wei Yuan’s wisdom, he would understand his meaning.
Wei Yuan pinched his teacup, staring at its blue and white pattern, and inexplicably changed the subject: “Have you been feeling any pain or swelling in your dantian lately?”
Xu Qi An was taken aback, wondering how Wei Yuan knew.
Recently, while practicing qi circulation and breathing exercises, he often felt discomfort in his dantian. His abdomen seemed to burn with a fire, as if wanting to expel something, but unable to do so. He had been thinking of asking Miss Fuxiang for help one of these days, but with his heavy workload, he couldn’t find the time to visit the courtesans’ quarters.
“Indeed,” Wei Yuan nodded. “This indicates that you’ve truly entered the Qi Practicing realm. In the future, this swelling sensation will move to the middle dantian, and then to the upper dantian. At that time, you’ll be able to step into the Spirit Refining realm.”
“My academic abilities are decent, but I’m not skilled in martial arts. However, I’ve accumulated some experience and can offer some guidance.”
“When the swelling moves to your middle dantian, I’ll have someone send you a visualization method. This will help speed up your entry into the Spirit Refining realm.”
“Once you reach the Spirit Refining realm, you’ll need to temper your physical body anew, striving to know your own body inside and out… But that’s all for the future.”
Although Wei Yuan was incredibly intelligent, he lacked talent in martial arts. Hehe, that’s somewhat comforting… Xu Qi An expressed his gratitude with emotion: “Thank you for your guidance, Lord Wei. This lowly official will serve you with utmost loyalty, ready to brave fire and water, fearing not even death.”
Wei Yuan chuckled, “You’re not a simpleton, but sometimes you act even more foolish than one.”
This isn’t foolishness, it’s principle, it’s faith. Try understanding Marxism-Leninism… Xu Qi An thought to himself, while also feeling a bit sad about the disconnect between himself and this era.
“There’s one more thing you should know. Today, His Majesty issued an edict to lift the city lockdown,” Wei Yuan looked at Xu Qi An, his smile peculiar, seeming to be a mix of mockery, jest, and sarcasm.
“???”
Xu Qi An’s face stiffened.
This doesn’t make sense. This is impossible!
Emperor Yuanjing’s attitude is problematic. With the First Supervisor breaking free, the current Supervisor and the royal family should be the first to be affected. In such a situation, shouldn’t the normal course of action be to close the gates and eliminate the threat once and for all?
What’s the meaning of opening the city gates? To show goodwill to the First Supervisor and coexist peacefully?
Impossible. Although Emperor Yuanjing might be an incompetent ruler, he was not a fool. Moreover, the current Supervisor wouldn’t agree to Emperor Yuanjing betraying the revolution.
Yes, that old codger’s attitude is also very strange. With your master rising from the grave, shouldn’t you be leading your subordinate sorcerers, stomping on the coffin lid, and shouting: “Men, help your master keep this old fellow’s coffin sealed!”
Instead, he’s feigning illness!
Could there be a deeper purpose behind this? Perhaps the First Supervisor, having been sealed for five hundred years, is no longer at his peak and is hiding somewhere to recover.
Is opening the city gates deliberately meant to lure the snake out of its hole, conveniently moving the battlefield outside the capital?
“Young man, do you have a lot of question marks in your head?” As Xu Qi An left Haogi Tower, he smiled bitterly. “Indeed, I do.”
Xu Qi An gathered his team and issued three orders. The first was for Chu Caiwei of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to investigate the whereabouts of artifacts that could conceal one’s aura.
The second order was for Min Shan and Yang Feng, two Silver Constables, to continue verifying the Ministry of Works’ gunpowder production and usage records.
The third order was to go to the county office and interrogate the Taikang County Magistrate.
The first two orders were straightforward, but the team didn’t quite understand the third one.
Xu Qi An explained, “Don’t you find it strange how the demon race knew about the saltpeter mine in Mount Dahuang?”
Hearing this, everyone was stunned.
“Right? Could it be that the demon race was lurking among the laborers, digging in the mines?” Xu Qi An sneered. “Of course not. Someone must have conspired with the demon race. Mount Dahuang is in Taikang County’s jurisdiction; the county magistrate must be involved.”
The three Silver Constables and over a dozen Bronze Constables looked at him with newfound respect.
Constable Xu’s meticulous thinking and rich experience showed why he was awarded the Golden Seal.
The three groups parted ways at the entrance of the county office, each setting off to complete their respective tasks.
Xu Qi An watched Chu Caiwei’s figure bouncing on horseback, suddenly thinking that one day, it might be a pleasing sight to see her beneath him.
“Boss, why do you think His Majesty doesn’t summon the sorcerers from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to question the court officials one by one?” Li Yuchun asked, glancing at his former subordinate who was now his superior’s subordinate.
After a pause, he added discreetly, “Sorcerers are human too.”
Being human means they can be bought. For ordinary small cases, it doesn’t matter, but when it comes to dealing with important court officials, relying solely on a sorcerer’s word isn’t enough. Emperor Yuanjing is both suspicious and has a strong desire for power… Xu Qi An nodded slightly.
Beside them, Song Tingfeng found an opportunity to interject, “Ning Yan, you’re quite familiar with Miss Caiwei from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, right?”
Xu Qi An nodded.
Song Tingfeng chose his words carefully, “I have a friend who’s been feeling a bit weak lately… I was wondering if I could ask for some medicine to boost his kidney function and virility on his behalf.”
Inventing a non-existent friend… Xu Qi An didn’t expose him, but smiled and said, “Tell your friend to play less Russian roulette.”
Li Yuchun frowned, confused, “Russian what?”
Xu Qi An, Zhu Guangxiao, and Song Tingfeng exchanged knowing smiles.
…
At the Cloud Deer Academy, Principal Zhao Shou concluded his two-hour-long class, admonishing his students to study diligently. With a light wave of his sleeve, he said, “Come from whence you came, return to where you belong.”
His figure vanished abruptly.
The students, long accustomed to this, weren’t surprised. They began discussing the recent major events in the capital.
“How could Sangbo Lake be blown up? It’s the place where the founding emperor of our Great Feng achieved enlightenment, yet it was destroyed by petty villains. Indeed, they’re all a bunch of incompetents. If our Cloud Deer Academy were stationed in the capital, such things would never happen.”
“This cannot be tolerated!”
The students were indignant, habitually criticizing everything and looking down on anyone who wasn’t a scholar.
Xu Xinnian packed up his books, preparing to leave. A student behind him called out, “Cijiou, let’s go for a spring outing in the mountains later.”
A spring outing in the dead of winter? Are we going to drink the northwest wind? Xu Xinnian shook his head and turned back to advise, “Black hair knows not the urgency of early study; white hair regrets the lateness of reading.”
As he was about to leave, he heard a sarcastic voice behind him, “Xu Cijiou is now in the Self-Cultivation realm. He’s probably too good to associate with us anymore.”
Xu Xinnian turned to see it was Zhu Tuizhi speaking. On the day they escorted the Ziyang Resident to Qingzhou, it should have been he who received the jade pendant from the great Confucian scholar Ziyang.
However, Xu Xinnian had intervened.
Moreover, this person had a poor relationship with him, and they had exchanged harsh words in previous years.
The Second Young Master Xu sneered, “In broad daylight, don’t falsely accuse people. When have I ever associated with you?”
Zhu Tuizhi flew into a rage, “Xu Xinnian, don’t think you can look down on others just because you’ve reached the eighth rank. You’re merely one step ahead, that’s all.”
The academy students felt both envious and jealous of Xu Xinnian’s advancement to the Self-Cultivation realm ahead of them.
Xu Xinnian said calmly, “I entered the Self-Cultivation realm effortlessly. Did I brag about it? I visited the Princess Royal recently and gained her appreciation. Did I brag about it? I’m about to seek guidance from my teacher to consolidate my cultivation and learn about the mysteries of the seventh rank. Am I bragging about that?”
He scrutinized Zhu Tuizhi’s face, suddenly chuckling.
“What are you laughing at?” Zhu Tuizhi glared at him.
Xu Cijiou said contemptuously, “Some people’s faces are as ugly as a miscarriage of justice.”
…The other students felt offended.
Zhu Tuizhi exploded on the spot, lunging forward to duel with Xu Xinnian, but was held back firmly by his classmates.
“Tuizhi, why bother arguing with him?”
“Xu Cijiou’s mouth is as sharp as a warrior’s blade. Let’s not argue with him.”
“…Don’t be rash. You’re no match for him, neither in words nor in physical combat.”
Xu Xinnian left proudly.
These people, ignore them for a while, and they think they can run amok.
When it comes to arguing, Xu Cijiou has never been inferior to anyone in his life.
…
The Jingzhao Prefecture governs fifteen counties around the capital, and the Taikang County Magistrate was imprisoned in the dungeon of the prefectural office.
Xu Qi An led his team into the prefectural office, heading straight for the Deputy Prefect’s hall. The Deputy Prefect wasn’t there, and the official on duty frowned and asked, “What business do you gentlemen have?”
Song Tingfeng said, “We’re here to interrogate the criminal official, Magistrate Zhao of Taikang County.”
The official asked again, “Do you have a written order from the Prefect?”
Song Tingfeng shook his head.
The official immediately became impolite: “Please leave.”
Wanting to access a prisoner without a written order? Are the Constables getting too arrogant? We might have to give you some leeway outside, but this is the prefectural office after all. You can’t just interrogate prisoners as you please.
“You fool!”
The Deputy Prefect, who had just returned, heard the conversation and his face changed slightly. He walked over quickly, berating the official.
Then he ordered someone to take Xu Qi An and his team to the dungeon.
“Deputy Prefect…” The official felt somewhat wronged. “This is against the rules.”
“Nonsense. We’ll lose our lives if we’re not careful. Who cares about these rules?”
“What do you mean, sir?”
“That man is Xu Qi An, the Xu Qi An who killed someone in broad daylight in front of the Ministry of Justice. He’s a madman. Do you want to die with him?”
“…Thank you for saving my life, sir.”
Xu Qi An had stayed in the prefectural office’s dungeon before and had some acquaintance with the local Jerry and Little Strong.
Led by the jailer, they arrived at the cell holding Magistrate Zhao.
“Get up, some officials are here to question you,” the jailer said, hitting the bars with his stick.
Wearing prison clothes, Magistrate Zhao lay on his side on a tattered straw mat, his back to everyone, motionless, as if he hadn’t heard.